An Aranalde cross shot across the face of the Sunderland goal after five minutes, evading every single player in the box and heading out the other side for a throw in. Zigor got a lot of space out wide, but didn't have much support, and what balls were pumped in to the box were caught by Poom or cleared by the Sunderland defence. 

Steve Corica saw his 25 yard drive saved by Poom early on as well, but it was Sunderland with their first real effort on goal who took the lead. The comedy defending we have become accustomed to in recent weeks reared its ugly head yet again. The defence struggled to clear the ball, got in each others way, got confused and allowed the ball to fall to Arca who drilled home the ball from just in side the penalty box.

The Saddlers just lacked any kind of cohesiveness. Corica was doing his best to link up the play but the forwards and the midfield seemed so far apart. We also lacked any kind of shape. Wrack and Bazeley loaded up the right flank where there wasn't much space while Zigor was on his own down the left. 

Corica was subbed just before half time, and was replaced by Pedro Matias. We can only presume he was injured. The Saddlers switched to a standard 4-4-2.

Half Time - Walsall 0-1 Sunderland

You always hope we will come out all guns blazing in the second half and turn things around, but most of us already know that this hasn't been happening with the Saddlers. 

Half time saw the injured Darren Wrack being replaced by Mark Wright. 

Kyle should have made 2-0 just after the break when his header from point blank range was tipped over by Jim Walker. When Darren Bazeley's 20 yard curling effort was tipped over the bar by Poom minutes later we hoped me might get an entertaining second half. The resulting corner led to the Walsall equaliser. The ball fell to Matias who hammered it goal wards only for it to rebound out to Emblen who leveled things up. Was this the fight back we have been waiting for?

It certainly wasn't. Within a minute Sunderland were back in the lead. The Saddlers gave Oster time to cross the ball in and some poor marking by the Saddlers saw Kyle put Sunderland back in the lead with a well placed header. 

The Saddlers did a few good second half chances. Osborn hacked at a good chance from the edge of the area, while Leitao lost the ball under his feat while baring down on goal. The introduction of Matty Fryatt for Vinny Samways as the Saddlers went 4-3-3 gave the subdued crowd something to be interested in. Fryatt showed some good touches and tried to put a bit of pressure on the Sunderland back line (rest of the team take note).

Stewart put the game well beyond our reach when he connected with a McAteer cross with just 10 minutes left. There was no fight from the Saddlers.

This is relegation form. Where are the points for survival going to come from? One thing is for certain. If we are going down, the fans will want the team to go down fighting. Not playing boring, defensive football where the likes of Osborn and Samways sit back without causing the opposition problems.

Full Time - Walsall 1-3 Sunderland