A good move by Walsall early on is broken up by Brian Tinnion. Some good passing from City but they can't get a shot in on goal. The Yellow Submarine Crew are trying to generate a bit of atmosphere with a chorus of "Red Army". City battling hard to break through a packed midfield.
A free kick from Tinnion finds Brooker who heads straight at the keeper. Walsall continue to let City have the ball backing off to defend in their own half. But on the break they force a corner off Bradley Orr, which Phillips claims comfortably. City having to resort to long balls and the game is very dull.
A poor back pass puts Phillips in trouble but Wrack shoots wide. Leitao then beats the offside and shoots narrowly wide. Walsalls game plan seems to be working. Another Leitao shot is deflected for Walsalls fifth corner, but there is little danger from corners so far.
Neil Emblem plays a back pass a little too short for Murphy in the Walsall goal and Brian Tinnion is booked for sliding in on the keeper. It is his fifth booking and he will miss the game at Colchester.
A ball into the box by Scott Brown is missed by Joe Murphy but Leroy Lita has three players on him and cannot shoot into an otherwise unguarded net. Leroy Lita plays a delightful ball into Steve Brookers path but he fails to connect and the chance is lost.
City force their first corner of the game, Brian Tinnions free kick appeared to have been headed behind by Clayton Fortune but the ref thought different. Craig Ireland heads the corner over under pressure from Neil Emblem. Walsall have done a job on City and things will need to change in the second half. City leave the pitch to a few boos.
Half Time 0-0
Louis Carey has an early second half shot blocked by Ian Roper. Craig Ireland crosses for Brooker who clashes heads with a defender and needs treatment. City prepare to make some changes. A floated shot by Andrew Surman is easily caught by Steve Phillips.
Tony Dinning comes on for Brian Tinnion and Paul Heffernan comes on for Scott Brown with just over half an hour left. City playing 4-3-3? Daryl Taylor is brought down by Craig Ireland who is booked. Clayton Fortune looks to have taken a knock and is replaced by Mickey Bell.
Steve Phillips collects a cross well before Leitao can get there. A looping header from Heffernan goes just over. Tony Dinning is booked for a tackle from behind, this is his fifth of the season and City's midfield is looking depleted for Colchester with Orr and Tinnion already suspended.
Leitao is replaced by Matt Fryatt for Walsall. City break and win a free kick for hand ball by Neil Emblem. Jamie Smith is booked for unsporting behaviour and will also miss the game at Colchester. A Colchester corner causes panic in a nervous City defence and comes off Tony Dinning just wide for another corner.
Walsall break from a Heffernan mistake and Surman scores with a free header from Wrack's cross.
0-1 (Andrew Surman 75mins)
Surman is booked for his celebration. Brooker blasts the ball over from an acute angle but only a yard out following a good cross from Jamie Smith. Heffernan wins a free kick from 30 yards out. Mickey Bell takes and Joe Murphy saves comfortably.
Leroy Lita is fouled on the edge of the penalty area but takes it quickly and hits the wall. A shot from Steve Brooker bounces just wide. Balls forward to Heffernan are seeing him out muscled by Simon Osborn. Craig Ireland hits the corner of crossbar and post latching onto a nice chip into the area from Bradley Orr. City win a corner but time is running out. Four minutes of injury time is announced.
Murray wins another corner having been put through by Heffernan. It comes to nothing. The final whistle goes. A poor performance from City in blustery conditions. City are booed off. Walsall deserved their win.
FT 0-1
Att. 10,820
Teams
Bristol City
S Phillips, L Carey, C Ireland, C Fortune, S Murray, B Orr, B Tinnion, S Brown, L Lita, S Brooker
Subs: M Bell, D Coles, P Heffernan, T Dinning, S Gillespie
Walsall
J Murphy, M Wright, N Emblen, I Roper, Z Aranalde, D Wrack, S Osborn, K Taylor, A Surman, D Taylor, J Leitao
Subs: P Merson, M Fryatt, J Bennett, J Broad, D Coleman
Ref: G Salisbury
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