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Colin Lee changed the side that drew at Derby. Youngster Matt Fryatt was replaced by the returning Jorge Leitao. We presume Fryatt was still feeling unwell, which is why he was subbed at half-time last weekend. Apart from that Lee kept the same shape. It was 4-3-1-2 for the Saddlers, but as the game went on it morphed in to a 4-4-2 with Merson out wide.
It was a strange game which on any other day could have finished 3-3. Two of our best chances of the game came in the opening 15 minutes. The first came as Jorge Leitao got on the end of an Aranalde cross, only to see his flashing header hit the side netting, but it clearly had Derby worried. The next chance fell to Darren Bazeley who took advantage of some space down the right flank, weaved through a couple of Derby defenders, then fired a hard low shot goal wards, only to see Grant make a save.
Jorge Leitao and Paul Merson also went on to register efforts on goal within the opening 15 minutes, but neither threatened to trouble Grant in the County goal.
Apart from those early chances we hardly threatened the Derby goal in first half. We managed to pass the ball around well, but failed to get any width with Bazeley and Aranalde being pinned back. Paul Merson saw a fair bit of the ball and managed to be influential in short spells. He collected and carried the ball from flank to flank and was easily our best offensive player during the opening 45 minutes.
Not many Saddlers would disagree with the fact we came off second best at Half Time. Derby had a number of good chances. The lively Peschisolido wriggled free on a number of occasions, but failed to convert his chances.
Derby managed to register quite a few efforts on goal, 3 belonged to Candido Costa who hit to long range efforts, neither of which bothered Jim Walker, While winger Leon Osman also hit 2 speculative efforts from the edge of the box. Derby even had the ball in the net before half time. Derby hit the Saddlers on the break, got down the right flank, Bazeley refused to make a challenge, the ball was whipped in, Osborn had failed to track Manel who found himself free in the box to head home. Fortunately for the Saddlers he was ruled offside, but it was a close call. Manel is big bustling forward, and if Osborn had of been goal side - It could well have been a goal.
It had been a worrying first half for Walsall fans. We gave possession away far to easily, and failed to force Derby to defend for long periods of the game.
HT Rams 0-0 Walsall
Our second half performance was a lot better. We kept possession well and looked sturdier at the back. It was ironic that our best chance of the game was created in the same way the winner was. Just after the break Ian Roper played in Lee Bradbury who raced through on goal, only to hook the ball wide of the goal as the advancing keeper narrowed the angle. Then, 5 minutes from time Roper headed the ball over the top of the Derby back line, Bradbury raced through again, but but go stuck in between Huddlestone and Johnson. The three players grappled with each until Bradbury fell in the penalty box. The ref awarded a penalty which Bradbury stepped up to convert.
Derby protested furiously because the linesman had flagged for a foul outside the box. The truth was all 3 players were pushing and tugging as Bradbury closed in the goalkeeper. The eventual push denied Bradbury a goal scoring opportunity and got Michael Johnson sent off. Osborn, Merson and Aranalde all hung around the penalty spot wondering who would take the penalty kick, but Bradbury picked up the ball, and fired home the games winning goal.
McSporran could have made it 2-0 minutes later when he ghosted in off the left flank, cut inside and saw his shot come of the wood work.
Still Derby had enough chances to get something from he game in the second half. Manel nearly put away a Jeff Kenna free kick, Walker saved a close range effort from Osman, while Junior had an injury time effort blocked on the line.
As the final whistle went the Walsall fans began to sing.... "Junior, what's the score, Junior, Junior what's the score". It was great to see the bleached haired bomber on the losing side. His behavior in the summer was disrespectful. The fact that Johnson, Peschisolido, Vincent and Junior were all close to being Walsall players made the victory all that sweeter.
Was this a fair result? Maybe not, but how many times have we outplayed teams but got nothing from the game?
One thing that has to change is the way our full backs defend. They are far to reluctant to make challenges. A defender who won't make a challenge is like a Barman who won't sell beers, a Fireman who won't tackle a fire or a Copper who won't make an arrest. Their apprehensive approach to confronting the opposition could have cost us dear.
Paul Merson's performance was a major plus. Although he drifted in and out of the game he made things happen and was extremely influential while on the ball
FT Rams 0-1 Walsall
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