Walsall went in search of a tenth win in as many league games on Saturday afternoon as they visited the University of Bradford Stadium and took on Bradford City.
Walsall began the game brightly, winning a corner just two minutes into the contest, as Jack Shepherd turned the ball behind. The ball in fell kindly to Albert Adomah but the Bradford defence stood firm and cleared the danger.
Things settled a little after that, but nine minutes in, Bradford could have opened the scoring as Calum Kavanagh saw an effort blocked, with the rebound falling to Antoni Sarcevic, whose strike was also blocked, before Brad Halliday saw his first shot blocked and a follow-up effort tipped onto the post by Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin.
Just two minutes later, the hosts did take the lead, as Bobby Pointon played a lovely through ball to Kavanagh, who found Sarcevic with a pass into space before the number ten fired a powerful strike past Simkin.
Walsall looked to respond quickly to falling behind, but Taylor Allen was unable to turn Ryan Stirk's fourteenth minute cross home, as the Bradford defences blocked the effort.
Things settled a little again as play continued, but Bradford won a corner in the twenty-second minute, as Aden Baldwin played the ball through for Halliday, whose strike was turned behind by Harry Williams. Nothing would ultimately come of the flag-kick or the one which followed though.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the twenty-seventh minute, allowing Jamille Matt to receive treatment following a collision, but he was eventually back on his feet and able to continue, though his return was short-lived, and thirty-three minutes in, he was forced to depart, with Danny Johnson taking his place.
Bradford saw much of the ball as the game continued, but they were unable to create much to really trouble the Walsall defences.
With forty-three minutes on the clock, Bradford doubled their advantage, as Sarcevic headed a Pointon cross down for Alex Pattison, who fired a powerful, low effort under Simkin.
City could have added to their tally just two minutes later, as Pointon crossed the ball to Kavanagh, who took aim from outside the box, but his effort was blocked and the hosts remained just the two goals ahead.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Oisin McEntee became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Halliday.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Bradford leading by two-goals-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action got back underway. Both sides took a while to settle back into the contest, but with fifty-three minutes on the clock, Bradford added a third goal to their tally for the afternoon, as Sarcevic played the ball through for Pattison, who raced forwards and fired past Simkin.
Walsall were presented with a chance to pull a goal back, in the fifty-seventh minute, as a foul on Connor Barrett saw the visiting side awarded a free-kick in a promising position. Adomah stepped forth to take the set-piece, but Bradford shot-stopper, Sam Walker was able to claim.
David Okagbue became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for dissent, in the fifty-ninth minute.
With sixty-three minutes on the clock, the Walsall bench opted to make a trio of changes, with Ryan Stirk, Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah making way, as Brandon Comley, Evan Weir and Manchester United loanee, Ethan Wheatley took their places.
Walsall were awarded a penalty in the sixty-fifth minute, as Shepherd fouled McEntee inside the area. Johnson stepped forth to take the spot-kick, but Walker got down well to make the save.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a brighter spell following the missed penalty, winning a corner twenty minutes from time as Ciarán Kelly turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Taylor Allen's ball in fell to Williams, who headed wide.
In the seventy-third minute, both sides opted to make changes with Bradford replacing Calum Kavanagh and Bobby Pointon with Tommy Leigh and George Lapslie, whilst Walsall's Connor Barrett departed in favour of Charlton Athletic loanee, Nathan Asiimwe.
Bradford could have extended their lead in the seventy-eighth minute, as Pattison crossed the ball onto the head of Sarcevic, but the number ten was unable to direct his header on target, sending the ball wide.
City chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the eighty-first minute, with Antoni Sarcevic and Lewis Richards making way for Brandon Khela and former Saddler, Tyreik Wright.
Walsall looked to pull a goal back in the eighty-fifth minute, as McEntee created space for himself and fired goal-wards, but Walker was put under little pressure, and comfortably gathered.
The Saddlers went on to win a free-kick in a promising position moments later, but Weir's ball in was headed high and wide by Williams.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Bradford chose to make their final change of the afternoon, with Brad Halliday making way for Callum Johnson.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Allen saw a thirty-five yard strike saved by Walker, as he latched onto a cross from Okagbue, before, at the other end, Leigh drew a fine save from Simkin, who got down well to keep the ball out.
That would be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Bradford City winning by three-goals-to-nil, as Walsall's winning run came to an end. A disappointing display from the Saddlers.
| SARCEVIC (11') PATTISON (43') PATTISON (53') |
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| AT | VALLEY PARADE |
| REFEREE | JACOB MILES |
