Vincent Harper Shows Benni McCarthy What He Will Be Missing With Energetic Wingback Display in England

Harambee Stars left back Vincent Harper shone on his first game at club level since being dropped by Benni McCarthy at wingback as Walsall beat Newport 4-2 in League 2  on Saturday afternoon.

Harper made six tackles and  interceptions, won five of his nine attempted ground duels, two of his three aerial duels. He also made 10 of his 12 duels to cap off a good display bombing up and down that left flank.

Harper had initially been named in the squad for the November friendlies initially against Comoros and Madagascar, but after a change in opponents, McCarthy had to shake up the squad, with Harper turning out one of the victims.

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Newport County took the lead in the 16th minute through Kai Whitmore, but Daniel Kanu immediately equalized. Ryan Finnigan then scored twice to put Walsall ahead. 

Gerard Garner pulled one back for Newport just before halftime, but Rico Browne’s strike shortly after the restart restored Walsall’s two-goal cushion, helping them hold on for the 4-2 win.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Premier League, Jonah Ayunga endured a tough game as St Mirren were beaten 3-0 by Hibernian in Paisley, a match marred by VAR controversies.

Hibernian’s goals came from Josh Mulligan, Chris Cadden, and substitute Miguel Chaiwa, moving Hibs above Falkirk into third place. However, St Mirren suffered two goals disallowed for marginal offside calls by video assistant Andrew Dallas at critical moments, adding to a frustrating run of VAR decisions that had seen them receive two red cards and other disallowed goals in recent matches.

St Mirren appeared to take an early lead in the fifth minute when Marcus Fraser headed in a cross from Keanu Baccus, but the goal was ruled offside after a VAR review. The first official goal came in the 24th minute when Mulligan converted a powerful shot from 15 yards following a turnover by Jamie McGrath.

Despite St Mirren’s late first-half pressure and a quick equalizer from Dan Nlundulu at the start of the second half, VAR once again intervened, ruling Nlundulu’s goal out due to a marginal offside decision.

Hibernian then doubled their lead through Chris Cadden, who scored with a deflected shot, confirmed by VAR after a lengthy review. The game was sealed in the 80th minute when Miguel Chaiwa fired home a spectacular finish following a corner, completing the 3-0 victory for Hibs.