Walsall v Bristol City - Down to Earth After Luton

By Neil Ravenscroft
October 23 2004

Luton Town fans came on the Walsall sites in droves to say they were the best team in the Division. Well, we saw what I thought was the best I've seen yet today.

Home defeats come in many kinds and we've seen a few bad ones this season, but let's get one thing straight from the start. Bristol City are the best team I've seen at Bescot this season. Strong, pacey and a good passing side, they will surely be there or there abouts at the end of the season. Some of our limitations were exposed this afternoon, but, despite the conditions, it was an excellent game of football between two sides determined to play the game properly.

Walsall lined up with the same side that finished the Tuesday game against Luton, with Jorge Leitao having failed his fitness test. The departure of Taiwo Atieno meant that Leroy Williams got the nod on the sub's bench.

Bristol City sprang a surprise, as Player-Manager Brian Tinnion was on the bench, despite statements that he would not be ready to come back from injury, something which was nearly to backfire on the Robins.

City lined up with Tommy Doherty playing deep, to man mark Paul Merson, in a "diamond" formation, with dangerous winger Scott Murray at the "tip".

For the first half it was a matter of both sides trading blows, with the homne side having a slight edge. Birch had a fine headed goal disallowed for offside and dangerman Leroy Lita also had one chalked off by the linesman's flag. Phillips was the busier of the two keepers, making one superb save from Merson, after his own clearing kick had gone straight to the Saddlers' Player-Manager, but Bristol City came even closer when Lita's header struck the inside of the post and rebounded to safety. Bristol's plan of denying space to Merson was working in the main, however, and the Walsall midfielder was far less influential than of late. In an attempt to get possession, merson was pushing further and further forward, hoping that Doherty wouldn't follow, but this was leading to Walsall playing almost a 4 3 3, which, as half time approached, I was hoping that City wouldn't try to exploit. I shopuld be so lucky.

A mere four minutes into the second half, City centre back and ex Albion man Tony Butler had a rush of blood to the brain and produced a ridiculous and unecessary tackle on Fryatt, missing the ball by a long way and bringing the youngster down. One yellow card later, (despite the baying of an element in the crowd, the right punishment), Fryatt picked himself up to slot home the resultant penalty. (To be honest, a little fortunately, as it went under Phillips's body).

For a while, Walsall poured forward, but Bristol City made the obvious tactical change and Tinnion came on to enable a move to 4 4 2, with Murray moving to the right wing and Aussie International Wilkshire to the left.

Immediately, Walsall were uner pressure and were being forced further and further back,as City exploited the wide open spaces on the flanks. We did make some incisive breaks, but the chance just would not come as, at the other end, an equaliser began to look more and more likely. Eventually, Emblen slipped on the greasy surface, Murphy blocked the shot well, the rebound went to Murray whose shot may even have been going wide until Murphy blocked it again and Lita knocked in the rebound.

City then lost Brian Tinnion as he broke down with his injury and the substitute had to be sustituted.

Walsall were now fighting back and started to get a back on top, if anything, although Aranalde had his hands full with the dangerous Murray, but a draw was starting to look by far the most likely outcome. However, in injury time, a sloppy piece of work from Mark Wrigth lead to a break from City and Lita's powerful 20 yard drive from a narrowish angle found its way past Murphy and into the net.

Plenty of positives from today's defeat, as chances were being made. Fryatt's frst touch, however, increasingly let him down and, to be brutally honest, that has to improve for him to ever make it at the top level.

The big downside was simple, though. Merson was well shackled today and, when he is, we look very short of ideas and seem to have no options on the bench to change things. City's move to 4 4 2 today should have been countered by us doing the same, but we don't have the personnel. That has to be our area for improvement.
Still, are the bookies still taking bets on Bristol City to go up?