Earlier today Walsall Football Club played host to Bristol City in the latest Sky Bet League One match of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
Walsall started well in the opening minutes. After an early free kick the ball dropped nicely for Andy Butler, but his volley deflected into arms of keeper.
Then James Baxendale, keeping his place following
an impressive Doncaster display, hit a tame shot at Frank Fielding after more
good play.
Bristol City were quiet to begin with but they are
top for a reason, and only needed one chance which came in the 11th minute.
A deep Luke Ayling cross found its way through to
Joe Bryan, who cut inside from the byline before hammering low past Richard O'Donnell.
James O'Connor could only drill one wide in
response and the home side were expertly being kept at arms length by the
Robins.
And Steve Cotterill's side were always dangerous
when they got ahold of the ball. Paul Downing got the ball trapped in between
his feet and Aaron Wilbraham picked his pocket. Wilbraham has eight league
goals already, and it was lucky that his shot was straight down the
goalkeeper's throat.
O'Connor then blocked a shot from the tricky Luke
Freeman, after the former Stevenage man had turned him inside and out.
The Saddlers have their own goal-machine now
though. Tom Bradshaw cleverly beat his defender and dragged a shot wide.
Winger Anthony Forde also set his sights and his
curler needed a strong hand from Fielding to tip the ball over.
Freeman blasted over and Derrick Williams skewed a
shot wide for City, with both sides having half-chances.
But Walsall's firepower was severely lessened when
Bradshaw was forced off just after half an hour.
Every cloud has a silver lining though, and Jordan
Cook got his first appearance of the season after playing for the reserves in
midweek on his return from injury.
There was some late Walsall pressure but City
showed their table-topping pedigree, and restricted them with relative ease.
H/T: Walsall 0 Bristol City 1
City had some good chances to double their lead
early in the second half, first though the ever-threatening Freeman, who
squeezed through a few defenders before fizzing wide.
Then Downing, who wasn't having his most assured
performance, misplaced a pass that allowed the Robins to break. Striker Kieran
Agard fired just off target from the angle.
For the Saddlers, Butler rose highest in a crowd of
players but nodded wide.
Bristol were containing the hosts well and looked
comfortable.
Forde was given time and space to cut in from left
but his shot was easily gathered by Fielding at the near post.
Bryan's powerful drive cleared the crossbar but
apart from that City were being pushed further and further back.
Cook then showed nice technique with a brilliant
turn and shot, but too close to keeper.
The substitute striker then provided everyone with
a bit of humour. He slid in on the touchline and accidentally clattered the
linesman.
The injury actually led to a break in play while
fourth official Rob Merchant rushed to get his kit on, in order to switch
places with the crocked linesman.
As the game got back underway Bristol City were
starting to take sitting back on their lead a bit too far. It was becoming
'sitting deep'.
And after being camped on the edge of the City box
for much of the half, the Saddlers grabbed a deserved equaliser with an
exquisitely worked goal on 85 minutes.
Romaine Sawyers played the ball into Cook on the
penalty spot, who pinged it back to him after Sawyers had found space 20 yards
out. He took it first time and caressed the shot into the top right corner.
Keeper Frank Fielding was at full stretch and had most
of the goal covered so Sawyers' strike needed to be right in the corner, and it
was. Dean Smith hailed it as an early goal-of-the-season contender.
Both teams tentatively probed for a winner in the
six minutes of added time. But it ended all square and, all things considered,
1-1 is a fair reflection on the game.
F/T: Walsall 1 Bristol
City 1
By: Scott Brotherton.
RESULT
WALSALL 1 BRISTOL
CITY 1
GOALS: (Sawyers 85' --
Bryan 11')
ATTENDANCE: 5,574 (1,979 Bristol City).
REFEREE: Mr. Keith Hill, Hertfordshire.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Romaine Sawyers (Walsall)
WALSALL O'Donnell; O'Connor,
Butler, Downing ,
Taylor; A.Chambers, Flanagan (Clifford 60'); Baxendale (Manset 81'), Sawyers, Forde;
Bradshaw (Cook 35')
Subs not used: MacGillivray; Benning, J.Chambers; Grimes
BRISTOL CITY Fielding;
Little, Bryan, Ayling, Flint, Williams, Smith, Elliott, Freeman (Wagstaff
83'), Agard ,
Wilbraham
Subs not used: Richards, Burns, El-Abd, Cunningham,
Pack, Emmanuel-Thomas