Walsall 2, Bradford City 0 - Star maker Pete Waterman is happy to expose the weaknesses of the would-be Pop Idols.

And his beloved team last night highlighted with glee the problems that confront new Bantams boss Nicky Law.

Walsall fanatic Waterman was in the crowd at the Bescot Stadium to see Law hit the flattest note possible on his City debut.

Bradford's own Pop Idol wannabe Gareth Gates won't have it anywhere near as tough in the spotlight as Law who watched in frustration as his team were eliminated straight out the FA Cup.

The only Bradford songs he was treated to were chants of "What a load of rubbish" from the band of away fans who made their dissatisfied voices heard in a two-thirds empty stadium.

Two goals in nine second-half minutes gunned down the Bantams who never looked like coming back despite creating several chances of their own.

Early injuries didn't help. Robert Molenaar lasted only 17 minutes before taking a blow in the ribs and Robbie Blake disappeared just after the half hour, hurting his groin as he stretched to get in a shot.

Losing two key players knocked City out of their stride. But Law was not offering any excuses.

After sending his team back out in the near-darkness for a warm-down, he told them: "It was almost as if you were waiting for it to happen and waiting for them to score.

"You've got to die at one end to stop them going in and die at the other to put them in. We did neither. We had four or five good chances in the second half when it just wanted someone to go in there and put a foot or head in where you're going to get hurt and score the goal. Unfortunately we didn't have that.

"And I was surprised at how vulnerable we were when we didn't have the ball. Against a side down the bottom reaches of the division, the ease with which they opened us up at times was quite concerning." Walsall were the last team not to score against City two months ago. But from the moment the unpredictable Darren Byfield scuffed wide a virtual open goal after eight minutes, another blank was never on the cards.

Lee Sharpe had already shown the new gaffer a trick or two with a gutsy tackle-back and shot on the turn but whenever Walsall had the ball it spelled danger.

Byfield's speed on the right combined with the power of targetman Brett Angell made for another uncomfortable night in the City defence.

Losing Andy Myers before the game didn't help and there was once again an air of uncertainty about the Bantams back line.

Carl Muggleton handled confidently enough and made a fine stop from Byfield before the break. But his wayward kicking under pressure betrayed the anxiety, hitting touch as frequently as Henry Paul.

Mark Bower was called in for Molenaar and stood up to the task manfully while in front of the back four, Stuart McCall rampaged around in typical battle-hardened fashion.

But Walsall always seemed to have time on the ball and space to use it. They weren't closed down quick enough, they weren't put off their stride.

Law had predicted beforehand that this could be the start of a decent cup run. And the band of loyal followers in a pathetic gate of 4,500 were clearly hoping for a much-needed injection of enthusiasm from the arrival of a new boss.

They got neither as City slithered miserably to yet another defeat, their fifth on the trot and seventh in eight games.

Walsall pressed from the second half kick-off and needed just over a minute to break the deadlock. Sloppy defending failed to deal with Zigor Aranalde's long throw in the penalty area and skipper Tom Bennett, who kept it simple and effective all game, lofted the loose ball into the top corner for his first ever FA Cup goal.

City summoned a response and could have levelled eight minutes later when a precise pass from Bower got Gareth Grant in space inside the penalty area.

The youngster, who had replaced Blake, got it down on the chest but lashed hurriedly at his shot. Inevitably, within a minute the ball had been worked to the other end where Darren Wrack's inswinging cross was missed by every Claret and Burgundy shirt but not by Angell who headed home.

Grant again sent another chance begging from Juanjo's lay-off and was beaten in the air for a perfectly-weighted cross from newly-arrived substitute Lewis Emanuel. Ashley Ward, you feel, would have buried it.

By that point the supporters had turned and each misplaced pass or sliced shot was greeted with catcalls from behind the goal. Hardly the accompaniment Law was anticipating for his debut.

Now the hard work begins to turn those jeers into cheers for his Valley Parade unveiling against Portsmouth on Saturday. With injuries and suspensions biting away at his options, it will be some challenge.