Walsall Football Club

With the travelling faithful in good voice, Walsall's first opening came when a neat move ended with Andy Taylor picked out in a good position by James Baxendale but his corner was blocked for a corner as Anthony Forde's flag-kick was headed clear.

As the home side saw more of the early ball, an opening for Anthony Forde saw him drag a low effort wide as we looked to get a foot-hold in the game.

At the other end, Drew Talbot put a teasing ball in from the left where Ollie Banks connected with his head but his effort went over.

There was a good effort from Jordan Cook who found space to line up a strike just outside the area and his effort crept inches wide.

A ball delivered into the box by the home side got caught in the swirling wind and required Richard O'Donnell to scramble back and push the ball out for a corner. In doing so, he collided with the post but thankfully he was okay and the corner was cleared.

After Anthony Forde tried his luck from distance only to see his effort sail over, Samy Morsy's long-range drive at the other end was straight at O'Donnell.

The visitors were putting some dangerous balls in from wide positions without making them count.

In stoppage time at the end of the opening period, Jordy Hiwula headed over from Ben Purkiss' cross as we went in goalless at the break.

The opening stages of the second period saw The Saddlers forced to defend as the home side pushed on for the opener. Sam Hird went close when his effort was deflected wide.

There was a double change for The Saddlers just past the hour when James Baxendale and Anthony Forde were replaced by Mal Benning and Michael Cain respectively.

A neat move out of defence by Walsall started with a good challenge from Ben Purkiss as Sam Mantom finds Benning who cuts inside and fires over. Then moments later a corner found James Chambers whose effort was touched onto the crossbar by Tommy Lee as the loose ball was scrambled cleared.

With Adam Chambers replaced by Reece Flanagan, Purkiss did well to tee up Jordy Hiwula who fired the ball into the side-netting from a good position.

It was the home side who took the lead with four minutes to go as Sam Hird rose to head home a corner.

That was to be the final action as The Saddlers slipped to a 1-0 defeat.