By Neil Ravenscroft
October 30 2002

Another home defeat means that, while the Saddlers' away form would mean a play off place, our home form would, in contrast, mean relegation. It’s A Funny Old Game, as someone once said, but not for a Saddlers Fan at Bescot.

Success in football, in any League, depends on home form. Last night, we conceded four goals at home for the second time this season and lost a two goal lead for the second time in succession. There are more problems than the obvious, though!

Colin Lee. Must be bewildered sometimes by the “goings on”. There are questions for him from last night, though.
Where was Carbon? Was it that Sicknote has picked up another injury, or was it that he didn’t fancy playing against Adebola, who had always given him a torrid time at Albion?
Unlike some of the people around me and some callers to WM last night, I thought he was right to bring Junior off, as he was fading. Why, in that case, did he not replace him with Zdrillic? We have seen enough of the tactic of playing Corica as a striker to know it doesn’t work. My score 6, as he should have done more to stop the long ball tactic second half.
Walker. Sorry on your 400th appearance Jim, but you should have done better with the first goal and the crucial second was your fault. Not even sure that some keepers wouldn’t have come for the third! He had virtually no other serious saves to make. My score 4.
Bazeley and Aranalde. I’ll differ with 4Two, as I thought both had reasonable games. The problems last night were in the centre of defence. My score 7 for both, although Bazeley should have done better with his second half chance.
Hay and Roper. For some reason, they seem to have lost the understanding they had been forging. Both did some good things, but both looked shaky at times. My score 5 each.
Wrack. Worked like a Trojan, in three different positions. Some great defensive work. Still was being criticised by some around me, though! My score 7.
Simpson. I hope this isn’t a case of form dipping now he is a bit more secure at the club. Not an impressive performance. My score 5.
Sonner. Didn’t look match fit after his long lay off, so I’ll make some allowances. My score 5.
Corica. 10 at times, 2 at others! Should have added to his one goal. My score 6.
Junior. Similar to Corica. Scored 2, should have got 4, could have had 6. Faded towards the end and started to spend more time on his backside, looking at the ref, Heskey style, and Lee was right to bring him off. My score 7.
Leitao. Ran tirelessly again, but didn’t look like taking his chances. His score has to be increased for that wonderful run in the second half, but decreased for the fact he shot at the end of it with Junior completely unmarked and waiting for the tap in. My score 6.
Herivelto. Made room gloriously for one cross, then hurriedly put it behind. Missed one great chance, miskicking completely. Was by passed by the long ball tactic. My score 5.

But wait, I hear you say, there’s someone missing! Martin O’Connor is vital to this team, as he tended to be at Blues. We do not perform when he is absent and the turning point of the game was probably that challenge just before half time that left him limping. He is one of those players whose influence goes way beyond what he does himself, in that he brings the best out of others. For that reason, I’d give him my man of the match award, even though he appeared in only half of it. My score 8.

And, everyone, there lies our problem. Squad depth in midfield. Both Simpson and Sonner are quite capable of producing good performances playing alongside Martin, but neither is capable of replacing him. This is a situation that Colin Lee needs to address urgently, even if it is only by bringing in a loan signing. Our season cannot depend on the fitness or otherwise of a 35 year old midfielder. I know that finances are tight, but the money due from the League (reputedly 800,000), from the TV highlights deal (first payment of 100,000) and various other sources surely must leave us in a position where we can make a temporary signing, at least.

One word for the ref, who I thought was probably the best we’ve had this season (although I can’t say as much for the one linesman in front of the main stand second half, who made a couple of weird offside decisions) and for Kolinko, the Palace keeper, who deserves a 10. Pity he didn’t decide to have a stinker in retribution for the slap from Francis. It can’t be often you win 4 – 3 away from home with a striker getting a hat trick and yet your keeper is the MoM. He kept them in it first half, single handed.

On an optimistic note, our results this season are beginning to show a pattern. When we score goals, the opposition tend to, when we prioritise defence, we cannot score ourselves. These problems are solvable.

Lastly, if you are keeping track of the comparison with last year, we now have 16 points compared with 21 in the equivalent games. It’s a six pointer on Saturday, in more ways than one. Even a win will only make it 19 compared with 24.