Match Report

The poverty of English Association football was emphasised yesterday when Wales beat England at Blackburn by two goals to one. The Welshmen were the livelier lot, but on every hand the game was regarded as disappointing.

Judged by the emptiness of the trains that left Manchester for Blackburn, Manchester people had little interest in the fact that England had to win to give them a chance of leaving the "wooden spoon" to some other country; but other parts of Lancashire did not regard the match with the same apathy. Bolton, thrilled by the Wanderers supplying two men to the Welsh side and one to the other, went to Blackburn in thousands, and did not mind travelling 17, 18, and even 21 in a compartment. The total attendance was about 30,000, and Bolton people must have found a large part of the £3,062 that was paid at the gates. They got a poor return for their money, although Jack, Vizard and Jennings were equal to the men supplied by other towns.

The ground was slippery everywhere, and as some of the snow in the middle had melted and formed pools of water the players were often guessing about the pace at which the ball would reach them. Passes meant for a man in white often went to one in red, who would sometimes return it in obliging fashion, and this, combined with a weakness on the English right and the cleverness of the defenders in covering the goal-keepers, made the exhibition a tame one.

Russell, the Plymouth veteran, who was right full-back for Wales, was frequently responsible for repelling England's attacks. Russell's knack of making his bald head prominent in moments of threat was most useful to his side. Willie Davies, of Swansea, caused trouble by his speed, and shot as well as anyone.

England went ahead ten minutes after the interval when Tunstall took a free kick and Roberts nodded the ball into the net. This seemed to make the Englishmen livelier for a minute or two, but the Welshmen outpaced them, and when Willie Davies received a back pass from Nicholls he sent in a fast shot against which Sewell appeared to move in the wrong direction. Three minutes later Sewell saved from Nicholls, and before he could recover Vizard scored with a low shot from short range. England have now lost to Ireland and Wales. - The Manchester Guardian