CITY were left cursing after losing to a late goal at an away venue where they usually do well.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Sam Walker bounced back from last week’s howler with two huge saves in the first half at a time when City were wobbling under Walsall pressure.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

How did City not score when they converged on Walsall’s goal and Andy Cook’s cross was not converted by Clarke Oduor?

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Losing two centre halves by half-time was a hammer blow for the Bantams.

With Aden Baldwin still out for a couple more weeks, seeing Neill Byrne and Ciaran Kelly limping away was the last thing City wanted – and leaves them with only two fit central defenders.

TACTICS

Graham Alexander stuck with the same starting 11 and bench from the Valley Parade victory against Carlisle.

Calum Kavanagh hopes to return to training at the beginning of next week.

REFEREE: Lewis Smith (Wigan)

BOOKINGS: Williams (Walsall); Smallwood, Cook, Shepherd, J Walker, Oliver, Alexander, Doyle (City)

ATTENDANCE: 5,967

SHOTS ON TARGET: Walsall 6 City 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Walsall 2 City 2

CORNERS: Walsall 7 City 6

FOULS: Walsall 6 City 14

POSSESSION %: Walsall 44 City 56

PLAYER RATINGS

WALSALL: Simkin 6, Allen 6, Williams 7, Okagbue 6, Barrett 6 (Adomah 82min), Jellis 7, Stirk 8, Lakin 6 (Earing 78min), Gordon 6, Lowe 7 (Cleary 67min), Matt 7 (Johnson 78min). Subs (not used): Weir, Hall, Hornby.

CITY: S Walker 7, Diabate 6, Byrne 6 (Shepherd 20min, 6), Kelly 6 (Pattison 46min, 7), Halliday 7, Smallwood 6, Wright 6, J Walker 7, Oduor 6 (Pointon 83min), Sanderson 7 (Oliver 83min), Cook 6. Subs (not used): Smith, Benn, Doyle.