Drab and Dreary Saddlers fail to raise there game
By 4two
September 15 2002
Walsall lost to Bradford despite being the dominant team for most of the game. Another inconsistent display has resulted in us slipping further down the table.
Walsall 0-1 Bradford City
Goals: Proctor 53' (Bradford City)
WFC Man of the Match: Walker (Walsall)
Walsall: Walker , Aranalde , Carbon , Hay , Corica , Sonner , O'Connor , Leitao (Junior) Wrack , Bazeley , Zdrilic. Subs Ward , Roper , Matias , Birch, Junior.
Bradford City: Davison , Atherton , Molenaar , Warnock , Uhlenbeek , Bower , Evans , Gray , Cadamarteri , Ward , Proctor . Subs Banks , Standing , Reid , Juanjo, Jacobs.
Report:
Another disappointing performance from the Saddlers, as Colin Lee again shuffled his pack. As usual Walsall started reasonably well, creating chances and keeping possession well.
Walsall's dominance of the game consisted of a 25 yard Aranalde effort and a string of corners which Walsall failed to take advantage of. Zdrilic and Leitao were working hard but the long balls did not suit there games.
Lee opted to play a 4-3-3 system with Corica being the third strikers. We were playing a lot of long balls, which left Corica picking up the scraps and not allowing him to play the role he is so comfortable in. The best Saddlers chance of the half fell to Leitao, who's near post effort flew towards the top corner but was clawed out by the impressive Davidson.
Bradford did push forward in the first half, Cadamarteri and Ward looked dangerous on the break as did the on-loan Proctor. There threat from set pieces was snuffed out by Jimmy Walker who managed to collect or punch the balls out. All in all a pretty bland first half.
Half Time: Walsall 0-0 Bradford
Walsall came out the blocks slow in the second half, and there grip on the game loosened slightly. Sonner and O'Connor were unable to keep the ball, O'Connor seemed to dwell on the ball on more than one occasion. Defensively, we looked sound with Hay and Carbon containing Ward and Proctor.
As the half went on Walsall looked less and less like scoring, Leitao and Zdrilic were playing with their backs to goal and the side lacked any real width. Bazeley and Aranalde did get forward, but failed to get behind the Bradford defense. Then, on 53 minutes a Bradford attack which involved some intricate passing and Walsall defenders backing off resulted in Proctor getting a chance from about 8 yards out which he stuck past Walker with ease.
Walsall did try and chase the game but failed to carve out any real opportunities until the closing minutes when a Saddlers effort came out of the post. A string or corners at the end amounted nothing and the Saddlers slumped to there third league defeat in a row.
Half Time: Walsall 0-1 Bradford
Colin Lee has highlighted Goals as a problem in a Radio WM Interview. David Zdrilic, as hard has he works didn't look like scoring today, Junior on the other hand gave the side an extra dimension when he came on. One problem he did not mention is the fact that he keeps changing the system. Every game we now have something different, we are unable to put out a settled team, and most of us wonder if he actually knows his best 11. Carbon and Hay look solid, but today we were vulnerable down the flanks with little cover being provided for the full backs. The Midfield Trio were poor today, O'Connor, Sonner and Wrack constantly gave away possession, this is an area Lee must be looking to strengthen. The bottom line is that we must start taking our chances in games, otherwise we will be in the same mess we were last year, come on Colin, Sort it out.
Player Form.
Walker (gk) 8 - Kicking was excellent, dominated his area.
Bazeley (rb) 5 - Failed to penetrate the City Defense, left exposed at times.
Aranalde (lb) 7- Tackling was good, but passing poor at times.
Carbon (cb) 7- Solid in the air, marking was slack for the goal.
Hay (cb) 7- A commanding display, marking was slack for the goal
Sonner (rcm) 5- Inconsistent display, gave away possession too often.
O'Connor (cm) 5- Dwelt on the ball, poorest performance for Walsall yet.
Wrack (lcm) 4 - Another ineffective game, didn't seem to know is position.
Corica (amc/fc) 8 - Sponsors MOM, busy performance.
Leitao (fr) 6 - Failed to convert his chances, but worked hard.
Zdrilic (fl) 6 - Played with his back to goal too much, lack of pace didn't help.
Subs.
Matias (mc) 6 - Failed to make an impact, is an orthodox winger.
Junior (fl) 7 - Spearheaded the min revival, raised the crowd.
Birch (fr) 7 Put himself about, gave us a physical presence.