By Mister Happy
October 16 2004

Despite a second half onslaught Walsall came away from The Racecourse with only a single point to show for their efforts. However, at times, Walsall were quite magnificent. Saddlers came away from an open and entertaining game at the Racecourse with only a single point to show for their efforts. Had “big bad Birch” been on from the start instead of the ineffective Leitao, Walsall would have won comfortably.

Paul Merson stuck to the same starting eleven that were victorious over Colchester. Saddlers started particularly brightly with Mark Wright supplying some decent crosses into the box. Unfortunately, neither of the poor strikers seemed remotely interested.

Wrexham looked a poor, schoolboy team. They did however cause some panic in the Saddlers defence when they hit us on the counter attack. On one such occasion the defensively limited Wright conceded a foul. From the resultant free kick the 8 foot 10 inch Lawrence headed home, completely unchallenged, to give the Welshmen the lead.

Saddlers continued to push forward but on far too many occasions they were guilty of trying to over elaborate. Having got the ball into good positions in and around the Wrexham box they went for the pin point passes or flick ons which simply gifted possession to the home team.

In the space of 5 minutes Baker in the Wrexham goal denied man of the match Wrack an equaliser. He turned Wracks first 20 yard effort round the post. The following corner then came back to Wrack who hit a beauty which was heading for the top corner. Somehow Baker managed to tip it over.

Just before half time, the commanding Murphy cleared his lines creating havoc in the Wrexham defence. Merson pulled the ball back for Kinsella who drove towards goal only for his effort to be deflected for a corner.

Saddlers began the second half in second gear and allowed Wrexham some time on the ball. However, the limited Welshmen just didn’t have the ability to create anything even when given the opportunity. Saddlers by now had started to look disjointed. All of the good build up play was being squandered by a poor final ball or the strikers taking the wrong options.

From another Wright cross the ball came to Leitao who rather pathetically tried an overhead kick which bobbled yards wide of the post.

However, about 20 minutes into the second half Saddlers sizzled back into life with Birch replacing the poor Fryatt.

Birch’s first contribution was to win a header from Wrights cross (something the other strikers had failed to do all afternoon) to create a chance for Leitao, which he inevitably “fluffed”.

Walsall simply upped a gear and totally destroyed Wrexham. Kinsella and Merson were the driving forces in the middle of the pitch and Birch was the big man holding the ball up and linking up play. Walsall were simply magnificent (even Osborn managed to find a player in the same coloured shirt – only occasionally mind you).

It was only a matter of time before the equaliser came.

Osborn smashed a thirty yarder against the bar and minutes later “old baldy” bounced another off the bar. With only 15 minutes left the inevitable happened. Yet another cross from the marauding Wright was met and converted at the far post by Bennett. The young defenders second goal in as many games.

By now, the Saddlers were rampant. The gaffer was in total control of the midfield and treated the visiting fans to a display of “keepy uppy” as Wrexham could only watch and admire. Chance after chance came and went for Walsall to get the winner. Twice the poor Leitao was put through by the excellent Gary Birch only for the Portuguese hit man (I use the term loosely) to fluff his lines.

However, in true Walsall style, minutes before the end Wrexham counter attacked and only an excellent save from the impressive Murphy kept the scores level.

Given that we dominated most of the match and then completely destroyed Wrexham for the last half hour it was disappointing to leave the Racecourse with a single point. However, this team is now starting to play like a team and it won’t be long before someone is given a damn good thrashing.

Man of the match goes to Darren Wrack as he put in a full 90 minutes of hard graft. A special mention also goes to Gary Birch whose introduction sparked a second half onslaught. Had Birch been on from the start we would have won this game comfortably. Of this, I have no doubt. He was strong in the air, held the ball up well and gave the Wrexham defenders something to worry about. He must start against Luton.