By 4two
October 19 2003

With Merson and Fryatt missing from the 11 that drew with Watford Lee shuffled the pack. It did'nt work, and we were defeated away - yet again. Result Sunderland 1-0 Walsall

Goals Stewart 41’

Sunderland – Poom, McCartney, Bjorklund, Breen, Williams, Quinn, Healy, Whitley, Oster, Stewart, Kyle. Subs: Clark, Tommy Smith, Ingham, Proctor, Leadbitter. .

Walsall Walker, Baird, Hay, Ritchie, Bazeley, O'Neil, Osborn, Vincent, Lawrence, Birch, Leitao. Subs: Kerr, Roper, Corica, Matias, Emblen.. .

Report What else did we expect? Maybe a bit more of a mauling from a side fresh out of the Premiership. With no Paul Merson Gary Birch came in and lined up along side Jorge Leitao. Fryatt was dropped (surely doing his confidence the world of good) .

It was the same old story for us in the first half. We kept he ball well at times, but lacked that spark which would create that one chance you need when you travel to grounds like the Stadium of Light. .

Sunderland had many of the same problems. Maybe it was credit to our backline they took so long to unlock our defence , but on the stroke of half time when some slack defending from Danny Hay (again) let Steward in to slip the ball past Walker. .

Sunderland had failed to create many clear cut chances in the first half with only Whitley and McCartney managing to threaten our goal. The goal seemed to fiz us in to action with Hay and Leitao going close, but nothing we could call real chances on goal. .

When Baird was red carded minutes later we all knew that was it for day. No way were ever going to come back with 10 men. Whether a straight Red was justified is debateable. Baird was technically the last man, but he has argued he got a touch on the ball, and the Radio WM lads suggested that players could have got back round to cover. .

We offered little more in the second half. Kyle, Stewart, Whitley and Oster all had chances to extend the Black Cats lead, but failed to take them. Walker was in fine form, and without him it would have no doubt been more. .