Some poor defending and one terrible refereeing decision cost Colin Lee's side again as they slipped to another defeat away from home, this time against Sunderland, and unless Saddlers beat Reading on Tuesday night, they will still be without an away win all season. This game was one to forget, but one man more than most will be desperate to put this week behind him. Chris Baird's own-goal against Watford on Tuesday cost Saddlers a valuable 3-points and his sending-off just before half-time yesterday put his team out of the game. Neither side looked dangerous in the first-half, the game played in front of an impressive 36,000 supporters. Alan Quinn fired straight at Jimmy Walker and his team-mates were restricted to long range efforts, neither of which caused Walker much concern. The game turned Sunderland's way in 5-crazy minutes before half-time. Marcus Stewart raced through on-goal, turned inside Danny Hay and fired left-footed past Jimmy into the back of the net. Walsall had some half chances before the interval, Hay and Jorge Leitao firing shots wide, before Baird was dismissed for bringing down Oster on the edge of the penalty area. After half-time neither side really threatened to score, although Stewart had a couple of good efforts that Jimmy saved well. Walsall missed Paul Merson's presence, and Leitao, Birch and Corica failed to put the home side under pressure, Birch's half chance the only real effort on goal. Walsall are sitting just above the relegation zone, with 3 or 4 clubs just a point behind them. Most of those sides have played a game more, and Saddlers do have 3 home games in succession after the Reading game but unless we pick up points away from home it's going to be a tough season. Teams for Sunderland game l Division One League Table l Results 2003/04 |