Under strength Saddlers outclassed.

By TheSaddlersFC Team
November 10 2002

Walsall came away from the impressive Walkers Stadium pointless. This was a fair reflection of how the game went as Leicester were in control throughout.

An excellent performance from the boys today as we took control of the match from the very start

Leicester City 2-0 Walsall

Goals : Heath 56 ' Scowcroft 65' (Stoke City)

Man of the Match: Jim Walker (Walsall)
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Leicester City - Walker , Impey , Sinclair , Heath , Davidson , Scowcroft , McKinlay , Izzet , Rogers , Dickov , Deane Subs: Stewart , Summerbee , Benjamin , Stevenson , Lewis Walsall - Walker , Bazeley , Hay , Roper , Carbon , Corica , Sonner , O'Connor , Wrack , Leitao , Zdrilic Subs: Ward , Barras , Birch , Wright , Junior Ref: G Barber (Hertfordshire)

Full Time Match Report by Alan Stokes & 4two

The first half was entertaining with chances going begging at both ends. For Walsall, Leitao managed to break free and from the six yard box with the goal at his mercy managed to shoot out for a throw in. Corica brought a fantastic save from Walker with a half volley from the edge of the box and Zdrilic managed to trouble the seats on the terrace with a few long range efforts. Paul Dickov for Leicester however was guilty of missing a hat trick of open goals. His movement, pace and speed of thought were too much for Hay and Roper who were left floundering as he wasted his chances. Leicester certainly should have had the game finished by half time.

The Foxes were a different class with their passing, movement and skill. Dickov, Scowcroft and Deane were constantly finding space, while Izzet was a persistent danger from the midfield throughout the first half.

Half Time - Foxes 0-0 Saddlers

The second half started brightly for the Saddlers ( the first 10 minutes anyway) until Leicester started to turn the screw with their wide men causing problems down both flanks. The opening encounters saw Darren Wrack go close from 18 yards out, and the saddlers have a string of corners which amounted to nothing. Heaths goal on 56 minutes came after he managed to squeeze home his shot from 6 yards out thanks to a McKinley pass.

As soon as the Foxes went 1-0 up, you knew that the Saddlers chances of getting anything out of the game had more or less gone. The goal lifted their spirits and spurred them on. The Saddlers kept conceding corners, and Izzet kept whipping them. With every corner that came, the Saddlers struggled to clear and another goal for City was on the cards.

on 65 minutes the Walsall defence gave Scowcroft time and space as he advanced from the left flank to the edge of the area unleashing a right footed shot that nestled in the bottom right hand corner. The only difference between this half and the first was that Leicester had found the net twice. If they had taken their first half chances, the Saddlers would have been on the end of a hammering.

City knew they had the game won, and although they pushed forward their wasn't the urgency their had been prior to the two goals.

Lee finally introduced Junior on 70 minutes along with Mark Wright for Jorge and Corica. Junior had a positive effect on the game as he ran at City defence and gave them something to think about. He did on occasions lose the ball, but never the less he was their causing them problems, something we had failed to do for over an hour .

Walsall looked more lively when Junior came on as a second half substitute but at the end of the day were deservedly beaten by a much better team. Man of the Match Walker. Excellent vocal support from the traveling Saddlers, however, this was undermined by the morons who are attaching themselves to the club as they "bravely" tried to get at the Leicester supporters after the second goal went in. Idiots

Full Time - Foxes 2-0 Saddlers

TheSaddlersFC Player Form by 4two & Alan Stokes

Walker 8, Carbon 5, Hay 6, Roper 6, Bazeley 6, Wrack 7, O'Connor 7, Sonner 7, Corica 6, Zdrilic 5, Leitao 6. SUBS: Junior 7. Wright 6. Birch 5.

Thank god it was last week that our Jim was suspended !. Without him today we could have been looking at a thrashing. Our full backs were totally ineffective today, many fans will now appreciate how effective Aranalde is, despite his defensive frailties. Corica struggled at times, if only he was a bit stronger he would be able to make a bigger impact on the game. He like Zrdilic couldn't really find a position, he seemed unsure whether he was playing wide left, central midfield or behind the front 2 ! Sonner and O'Connor couldn't match the quality in the City midfield, but battled well. Wrack is improving. His work rate is good, he puts his foot in, he isn't afraid to shoot from long range. Jorge just wasn't with it, he hassled their defenders when he felt like it, and when he did he looked dangerous, could have done better with his two chances. Driller was the most disappointing player from my point of view. Saying that Lee chose him over Junior, he did the exact opposite of what Junior usually does. He passed too many balls back in to the midfield, didn't go past people enough, and didn't get in the penalty box enough. We know Driller can smack a ball in to the net, but fans couldn't see the logic of playing him as a left midfielder at times.

Nationwide League Division 1 - Top 10 Marskmen.

Despite a disappointing performance today, the goal scoring charts rank Jorge Leitao in the divisions top 10 marksmen. This backs up the view that an on form Leitao, is one of the best players in the league, and vital to the Saddlers cause. Lets hope we get some consistency from our Portuguese battering ram.

		LGE	FA	WC	OC	Tot	Gms	GPG

David Johnson	Nottm Forest	14	0	2	0	16	19	1.19
Neil Shipperley	Wimbledon	8	0	3	0	11	21	1.91
Andrew Johnson	Crystal Palace	8	0	3	0	11	17	1.55
Alan Lee	Rotherham	10	0	1	0	11	18	1.64
Paul McVeigh	Norwich	10	0	0	0	10	18	1.8
Nathan Blake	Wolves	9	0	1	0	10	18	1.8
David Connolly	Wimbledon	9	0	0	0	9	6	0.67
Ricardo Fuller	Preston	7	0	2	0	9	16	1.78
Pablo Counago	Ipswich	5	0	1	3	9	18	2
Jorge Leitao	Walsall	6	0	2	0	8	21	2.62

After Match Reaction - by The Fans

Reaction : 4two - Can we really expect to go away to a side who has managed to keep the core of it Premiership Side, who play in a multi-million pound stadium and get a result? I say yes we can. Lee's ethos is attack and make no concessions for the opposition (or at least I thought it was...it was the impression he gave). But, in his post match interview he said he had been worried about City over loading wings and tried to compensate for it. In my opinion he compensated for it by playing the more disciplined Driller in place of the adventurous and unpredictable Junior. As for the Aranalde issue, he was deeply missed today. I have never doubted his ability going forward (which is invaluable), but defensively he isn't good enough (but their is no one better at the club).

Reaction : Geoff Whiting - No shame in losing to Leicester, they'll surely be up in the promotion frame throughout the season.

Reaction : Cannock -We were beaten by a much better team. Leicester out passed, out thought and out played us. Simple really. At times we were outclassed as Leicester walked through our midfield and defence with ease. Dickov was guilty of missing a hat trick as he completely undone Roper and Hay with perfectly timed runs between them. Zdrilic and Jorge were very poor today. Junior looked more lively when he came on during the second half and questions must be asked why he didn't start as he has that certain unpredictability about him that can win matches.

Reaction : Techno - i must agree with you Cannock have just got back and what you say is spot on. They are the best team that we have come up against this season. We didn't have a clue really, Nice ground though but why have a big ground and have very quiet home supporters, well we can't win em all but without jimmy in goal it could of been 6 or more

Reaction : Ian Hemmings - they are the best team i have seen play this season by a country mile dingles included who in my opinion are the second best side i have seen play!

Who's place may be under threat ?	Carbon - Not a full back, Driller - Not as creative as Junior, Sonner - Doesn't influence the game.
How Did Colin Lee do today?	Unexpected changes that blunted our ability coming forward, and curbed the flowing attacking style that has characterized the last few months. Disappointing.
TheSaddlersFC Recommends....	Get the positive players like Aranalde, Junior and Simmo back in when and if they are available. PS - Don't use Driller as a Winger or Carbon as a full back !