Following Saturday afternoon's Sky Bet League One match between Walsall and Visitors Bristol City, Cory Lees shares his Match Report;
The Saddlers fielded an unchanged starting eleven from the side was defeated by Port Vale last weekend, the only absentee was Chelsea loanee Milan Lalkovic, who missed out on a place on the bench with a re-occurrence of the hamstring strain that kept him out a few weeks ago.
Walsall started the game on the front foot and created the first chance of the half on 7 minutes when a James Chambers cross was met by Michael Ngoo who's looping header came off the top of the crossbar.
The Saddlers were by far the better side for most of the first half, but the closest they came to a goal was on 30 minutes when a deflected Sam Mantom free kick saw the Robins keeper Simon Moore get down well to push it wide.
Then just on the stroke of half time a usually controlled Andy Taylor failed to clear his lines which led to him bringing down Sam Baldock and although he was going away from goal, the referee deemed it a penalty which Baldock slammed straight down the middle to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
H/T: Walsall 0 Bristol City 1
Walsall came out looking for an early equaliser at the start of the second half when Febian Brandy saw his effort go straight at the keeper, but on 56 minutes Walsall had a better opportunity to level when a tug by Greg Cunningham on Michael Ngoo was enough for the referee to point to the spot.
With Craig Westcarr unavailable it was down to Sam Mantom to take the resulting spot kick, but his poor effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Simon Moore.
The Saddlers came very close to the equaliser when a fine finger tip save by Moore denied substitute Nicky Featherstone from 25 yards, but yet again it was a game in-which Walsall saw plenty of possession and will feel they should have got something out of, but the lack of a killer instinct in front of goal has once again cost them.
F/T: Walsall 0 Bristol City 1 (Baldock PEN 45')
Attendance: 5,110 (1,312 Bristol City)
Referee: Nigel Miller, County Durham.
By: Cory Lees.