Match Report 2001-2002

FA Cup Third Round

Walsall Away

Much to do

If Nicky Law did not know the extent of his job at Bradford City before, he does now. In short City are the team that should do better.

Everything about City suggests a team better than the results. The wage bill is twice that of Sheffield United, who perform better, and must be at least three times that of Walsall, who dumped Law's new side out of the FA Cup for another season.

Ashley Ward is supposedly a better player than Brett Angell, although perhaps it is just the fact that people have paided mucho money for and to him that suggests this. Perhaps this is a way forward for Law. To sort those who are quality from those who enjoy the trappings but offer little more than an Angell or a Mark Robbins at Rotherham.

Angell, powerful upfront for Walsall, got his head to a superb far post chip by the impressive Darren Wrack to give the Midlands side a second goal that secured them a visit to the Valley to play Charlton in the next round. In some respects it was what Walsall deserved, but City had been unlucky.

For all Wrack's abilities, Robbie Blake looks a class above once more. He is back into the form that had clubs have bids of £2.5m rejected as too low. He looked good tonight until he limped off to be replaced by the ineffectual Gareth Grant. Nicky Law faces the prospect of having a Grant/Tod forward line on Saturday. A brave man would blood Danny Forrest although Grant may get some change out of Pompey's Darren Moore-less back four.

Law used two of City's class of 1999, the youngsters who signed up as professionals as the club went up. Mark Bower replaced Robert Molenaar after the Dutchman got injured again, should Andy Tod play up front on Saturday, Law himself may be playing centreback.

City were lucky not to be behind early on as Darren Byfield hit over fro close range with Carl Muggleton committed, Lee Sharpe's shot from 25 and a sniff for Ashley Ward was all City managed in response before the injuries took their pound of flesh.

Tom Bennett got the best of a goal mouth scramble just after half time, Angell added the second and City had no real response.

Once again City have exited the FA Cup at first time of asking, history will forget the injuries and rightly so.

There is much to do Mister Law, much to do.

Man of the Match

Robbie Blake

Showed touches, then got injured and everything went down hill.

City Team:

Muggleton
McCall Molenaar Tod Jacobs
Juanjo Locke Jess Sharpe
Ward Blake

Subs: Mark Bower on for Robert Molenaar, Gareth Grant on for Robbie Blake, Lewis Emanuel for Juanjo.