(Article from the Birmingham Mail.net Monday October 22 2007)
Walsall 0 Southend United 2 (Saturday October 20, 2007)
Richard Money reckons Southend are the best side in League One this season. He praised their performance off the ball but insisted Walsall had pushed them all the way.
Afterwards Money suggested to the assembled press corps that they and some of the supporters should take a reality check. Maybe Money needs to take a reality check of his own. Southend are a good solid side and their second place in the table suggests as much.
That said, Walsall could have made things considerably more difficult for them. Money was happy to point out that Walsall have taken 14 points from their last six games. That has been achieved against some of the better League One sides, like Tranmere, Hartlepool and Doncaster.
So that's why it was so disappointing to see Walsall play second fiddle to the well-organised visitors. Perhaps had the Saddlers cut out their ponderous insistence to square pass all the time in defence, there may have been a different outcome.
On several occasions they allowed themselves to be closed down to such an extent that they lost possession which ultimately, apart from any Southend brilliance, led to their goals.
The home supporters had to wait 34 minutes before the Saddlers had their first shot on goal when David McDermott drove straight at goalkeeper Steve Collis.
Southend took the hint - and the lead - four minutes later. Poor defending allowed Peter Clarke to head home from Steve Hammell's corner.
Six minutes into the second half, Walsall central defender Anthony Gerrard got caught in possession, which allowed Mark Gower to deliver a fierce drive that Saddlers keeper Clayton Ince could only parry into the path of former Wolves striker Leon Clarke, who made no mis-take in front of an open goal.
From that point Walsall were always chasing the game. They tried hard with the tireless Tommy Mooney heading one good effort just over.
And substitute Darren Wrack should have halved the deficit in stoppage time when he blazed wide in front of goal.
Southend had chances as well, Gary Hooper failing to connect in front of an open goal following Alan McCormack's cross. Ince then pulled off a great save to prevent Charlie McDonald from adding a third.
For once Walsall's kids failed to sparkle, with Mark Bradley, Troy Deeney and McDermott all removed from the fray by the 68th minute.
WALSALL (4-4-2): Ince; Weston, Gerrard, Dann, Fox; Deeney (Hall 68), Bradley (Nicholls 62), Dobson, McDermott (Wrack 45); Mooney, Sonko. Not used: Roper, Bossu.
SOUTHEND (4-4-2): Collis; Hunt, P Clarke, Barrett, Hammell; Black (Maher 73), McCormack, Bailey, Gower; L Clarke, Hooper (McDonald 73). Not used: Moussa, Harrold, Wilson.