CITY plumbed the depths the week after the high of Newport with a dismal home defeat to Walsall.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at a wet and miserable Valley Parade yesterday and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

It was an awful afternoon for City but Brad Halliday, at least, could look himself in the mirror after another consistent display at right back. He wasn't to blame for a miserable result.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Andy Cook's thumping penalty should have been the launchpad for a City home victory. But it proved nothing more than an illusion.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

The first goal, the second goal, the third goal ... all three times Walsall scored were a bit of a horror show from City's point of view. Then having gone 3-1 down, they offered nothing to suggest a comeback.

Kevin McDonald slotted back into midfield after being given the night off in the Carabao Cup.

Mark Hughes reverted to the same starting 11 that had performed so well at Newport the previous week.

That meant Alex Pattison made his return to league action on the bench. Chishom Afoka, Emmanuel Osadebe and Bobby Pointon were not named in the squad.

REFEREE: Scott Jackson

BOOKINGS: Tulloch (City); Riley, Gordon, Williams, Tierney (Walsall)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 2 Walsall 4

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 8 Walsall 3

CORNERS: City 10 Walsall 5

FOULS: City 8 Walsall 9

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: Lewis 4, Halliday 7, Platt 5, Stubbs 5, Ridehalgh 5, McDonald 5, Gilliead 5 (Oyegoke 53min, 5), Oduor 5 (Pattison 53min, 5), Walker 5, Tulloch 5 (Smith 73min), Cook 5. Subs (not used): Wilson, Smallwood, Kelly, Doyle.

WALSALL: Evans 6, Williams 8, Daniels 7, McEntee 7, Riley 6, Stirk 7, Tierney 7 (Knowles 81min), Hutchinson 6, Gordon 7, Oteh 7, Draper 8 (Matt 75min). Subs (not used): James-Taylor, Foulkes, Johnson, Griffiths, Smith.