Pathetic Saddlers lose at home against Derby. It was a game contested by two teams that looked as though they will both be firmly seated amongst the relegation places come the season’s end.
Lawrence replaced Samways, while Wrack replaced Aranalde. Lee went
with a 3-5-2, but it turned out to be a 5-2-1-2, with no width and a
lack of players getting forward.
 Derby started off much the sharper outfit with Junior heading against the post with the goal at his mercy after 5 minutes and only a Walker tip over the bar from a delightful Junior free kick kept the Saddlers in it. Throughout the first half Derby looked the more dangerous side as they simply waltzed through a non existent Saddlers midfield. Lawrence was invisible, Osborn diabolical and Merson all at sea.
At times we looked as though we
could carve out an opening. Some good play from Burton, Leitao and
Merson ended in Merson shooting from the edge of the area, but
failing to trouble the Derby keeper.
The hard work of Svensson and
the threat of Junior kept our back line on its toes, and it was
clear to see that Lee had told his defenders to get Junior early
with Roper and the impressive Ritchie giving him little time on the
ball.
Burton had looked willing to
chase around, but we never looked like using his pace, and didnt
play to his strengths. Him and Leitao seemed to take up the same
positions at times, something which left us short of options when
trying to break.
Osborn had been guilty of
giving away possession far to easily, like Merson and a number of
other Walsall players. As for our Brazilian friend, he was having a
decent game, some nice touches, the most livley of all the
strikers.
Half Time - Walsall 0-0 Derby
The opening moments of the
second half were far from inspiring. Both sets of fans would have
hoped they could nick the goal that would win the game, and you had
to think that one goal would liven up the game.
It wasn’t as if Derby were a good side. Their poor quality was
counter-measured by their willingness to fight and chase the game whereas Walsall just didn’t seem interested.
The second half saw the visiting keeper keep out a Jorge header which was heading for the far corner and he pulled off a magnificent save from a blistering Wrack effort. That aside, Walsall offered nothing whilst Derby were simply too inept to offer anything. That is, until Junior scuffed an effort into the bottom corner after yet more diabolical Saddlers defending.
We went to 4-4-2. Merson
on the right, Pedro on the left, Oakes (on for Lawrence) and Osborn
down the middle. Still we struggled to claw our way back in to the
game. The balls were going in to the box but they were too high, too
long, or were cleared by Derby.
 Positives
from the game, Paul Ritchie was impressive (again), Oakes used the
ball well when introduced, Lawrence had played first team football,
Burton can only get better. However, there were far more negatives.
We gave possession away far to easily. Didnt chase the game. Lacked
ideas when we most needed to change it around.
Total football? Rubbish. This was a disgraceful Saddlers performance.
Full Time - Walsall 0-1 Derby
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