Oh ! Happy Day

Bristol City sent their supporters home happy after this Bank Holiday demolition of Walsall, who could not have complained if the score had been doubled. A superb team performance was rewarded with two goals from Scott Murray in a pulsating first half and a late header from substitute Luke Wilkshire in a second half which, apart from the first ten minutes, was completely dominated by the home side.Those Walsall supporters left in the ground at the end were reduced to chanting ‘What a load of rubbish’ and calling for manager Paul Merson to be relieved of his duties.
City were unchanged for the fifth match in succession and , in contrast to their slow start at Yeovil on Saturday, were very soon into their stride.
Despite much of the early possession, however, City failed to create a chance until the tenth minute, when Murray ran on to an astute through pass from the impressive Russell to drill an unstoppable shop past the Walsall keeper Joe Murphy.
City then took complete control of the game, seemingly winning every 50/50 ball, and showing great determination. Murphy made a fine save from Noble in the 20th. minute before Savage tested the keeper with a fine shot on the turn.
In a rare Walsall foray into City territory Jorge Leitao shot from distance but failed to trouble Basso in the City goal. The Walsall hit man, on the verge of a transfer back to his native Portugal, injured his hamstring in the move and limped off to be replaced by Daryl Taylor.
It was all City now and the second goal duly arrived on thirty minutes as a deep Cotterill cross from the right eluded the Walsall defenders and found Murray, who controlled the ball superbly with his chest before drilling the ball, left footed, into the corner of the net. City had a rare scare on the stroke of half time when a clearance from Basso cannoned off Constable to Alex Nicholls, but the Brazilian keeper made amends by saving the attacker’s shot.
Murray had the ball in the net again on the stroke of half time, but was denied his hat trick by an offside decision.
After an early spell of Walsall fluency, City took control of the second half, Savage on four occassions, Brooker, Murray, Noble and Russell all tested the keeper before The manager made two late substitutions, Wilkshire replacing Cotterill and Skuse taking the place of Russell. In the 88th. minute City made the score a little more realistic when Brooker found space on the right and Wilkshire met his cross at the near post with a downward header into the net.