On Tuesday evening Walsall Football Club's 2015/16 season continued as they played host to Sky Bet Championship outfit Brighton and Hove Albion in Round 2 of this season's Capital One Cup. You can read our match report below.
Following an impeccably observed minutes silence in memory of those lost in the Shoreham air crash, it was Brighton that got the game underway.
The opening period of the game was a fairly scrappy affair, with neither 'keeper truly tested as the teams looked to settle into their rhythm.
After around eight minutes Walsall's Milan Lalkovic saw a header go wide of goal following good play out wide from the Saddlers, Centre of Excellence product Kieron Morris with the teasing cross following a nice interplay with Mantom and Bradshaw.
With ten minutes gone, Neil Etheridge was called into action as Rosenior was played in by March and unleashed a low drive from the angle, simple save for the stopper.
As the clock reached the fourteen minute mark the Saddlers won a corner following good endeavour from Morris who saw an effort blocked.
The resulting corner was partially cleared by the 'keeper but eventually fell to Reece Flanagan, who unleashed a volley back at goal, the stopper did well to dive and gather to keep his clean sheet intact.
Just before we reached that half-way stage of the first half, the Saddlers almost created another chance as Rico Henry burst down the wing and looked to send the ball into the box, however Lewis Dunk did well to get in front of Kieron Morris as he shaped to shoot.
A few minutes later Brighton's Forster-Caskey did well to dispossess Sam Mantom in midfield and unleash an effort towards goal, Neil Etheridge was alert and pushed the ball away.
Not long after the Saddlers were awarded a free kick around twenty-five yards from goal. Milan Lalkovic stepped up and sent a curling effort just wide of goal, the away 'keeper seemed concerned as he rushed across goal.
Later, Neil Etheridge was again alert to danger as a soft Murphy header was easily gathered following good play by Rosenior.
The Saddlers looked to widen the match as Morris and Lalkovic sought space, the pair also switched wings from time to time, presenting another test for their opponents.
With just over ten minutes of the half remaining, Milan Lalkovic curled an effort wide of goal following good play from the Saddlers, many of the Saddlers attack looking to get forward and support.
After thirty-eight minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty as Forster-Caskey was bought down in the area. The Brighton midfielder, who went down a little easily under Demetriou's challenge recovered to take the effort and slotted it past the 'keeper.
With three minutes of the half remaining, Neil Etheridge did well to save from Murphy as his deflected effort inched towards goal, the score remained the same as we reached the break.
The Saddlers got the second half underway and looked to set the tempo in midfield as the visitors also set out their stall.
The first meaningful effort at goal was sent in by Saddlers' summer signing Jason Demetriou who saw his long-range shot curl wide of goal.
At the other end Brighton's Rohan Ince sent an effort well over the bar following good work from March who beat Rico Henry to get the ball in.
Away defender Lewis Dunk was the first player to be booked as he felled Sam Mantom in the middle of the park, a poor challenge from the sought-after man.
With eleven minutes of the second half gone Milan Lalkovic sent a free kick agonisingly close as it went across goal and eventually wide.
Soon after, the Saddlers were the first to make a change as Matt Preston replaced Paul Downing in the centre of defence, a good opportunity for the young defender.
Just past the hour mark the Saddlers had another opportunity as Rico Henry did well down wide and picked out Sam Mantom, who sees his header blocked for a corner.
The initial flag kick was cleared and the Saddlers soon won another, but made a change ahead of it being taken as Reece Flanagan was replaced by Romaine Sawyers.
The second corner was then taken by Kieron Morris but headed out by Dunk as the visitors settled back into an attacking formation.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores as Milan Lalkovic fired home following good play from the Saddlers, Matt Preston did well to send the ball forward to Bradshaw, who pulled the ball back and found Lalkovic for the summer returnee to fire home.
The Saddlers had another attempt at goal as Kieron Morris rode a challenge and forced the 'keeper into a save. Tom Bradshaw headed wide from the resulting corner.
The visitors took their goal kick and broke back up the other end of the field and were awarded another penalty as O'Connor fouled Chris O'Grady.
The tall Brighton striker stepped up to take the effort and sent it wildly over the bar as the Saddlers fans cheered him on.
The visitors soon made their first change of the game as O'Grady was replaced by Hemed, much to the delight of the Saddlers support.
With under fifteen minutes of normal time remaining Walsall's Jordan Cook was the Saddlers' final change of the match as he replaced Milan Lalkovic.
A few minutes later the Saddlers had another opportunity at goal as Jordan Cook sent a deflected effort behind for another corner, which was wasted as the away side cleared.
At the other end, Jason Demetriou was added to the list of bookings as he felled an advanced Lewis Dunk. The free kick came to nothing as we remained all square.
Both sides continued to advance up the pitch as the clock ticked down, Saddler Matt Preston confidently clearing from a March cross.
With around five minutes remaining the Saddlers broke from a Brighton corner and earned themselves a corner kick, which was gathered.
With four minutes of the game remaining Walsall's Romaine Sawyers, following a good ball from Matt Preston, did well to open up the play and find Rico Henry who sent the ball home to give the Saddlers the lead.
With time running out, Brighton boss Chris Hughton made his final changes of the game as LuaLua and Baldock replaced Murphy and Holla.
As the referee awarded five minutes of added time, Jordan Cook sent an effort poorly over the bar, and the Saddlers sought to play down the clock.
Neil Etheridge was called into action as Baldock had an attempt at goal, good alert stuff from the 'keeper as the away side failed to find the net and Dean Smith's Saddlers made it through to Round 3.
The opening period of the game was a fairly scrappy affair, with neither 'keeper truly tested as the teams looked to settle into their rhythm.
After around eight minutes Walsall's Milan Lalkovic saw a header go wide of goal following good play out wide from the Saddlers, Centre of Excellence product Kieron Morris with the teasing cross following a nice interplay with Mantom and Bradshaw.
With ten minutes gone, Neil Etheridge was called into action as Rosenior was played in by March and unleashed a low drive from the angle, simple save for the stopper.
As the clock reached the fourteen minute mark the Saddlers won a corner following good endeavour from Morris who saw an effort blocked.
The resulting corner was partially cleared by the 'keeper but eventually fell to Reece Flanagan, who unleashed a volley back at goal, the stopper did well to dive and gather to keep his clean sheet intact.
Just before we reached that half-way stage of the first half, the Saddlers almost created another chance as Rico Henry burst down the wing and looked to send the ball into the box, however Lewis Dunk did well to get in front of Kieron Morris as he shaped to shoot.
A few minutes later Brighton's Forster-Caskey did well to dispossess Sam Mantom in midfield and unleash an effort towards goal, Neil Etheridge was alert and pushed the ball away.
Not long after the Saddlers were awarded a free kick around twenty-five yards from goal. Milan Lalkovic stepped up and sent a curling effort just wide of goal, the away 'keeper seemed concerned as he rushed across goal.
Later, Neil Etheridge was again alert to danger as a soft Murphy header was easily gathered following good play by Rosenior.
The Saddlers looked to widen the match as Morris and Lalkovic sought space, the pair also switched wings from time to time, presenting another test for their opponents.
With just over ten minutes of the half remaining, Milan Lalkovic curled an effort wide of goal following good play from the Saddlers, many of the Saddlers attack looking to get forward and support.
After thirty-eight minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty as Forster-Caskey was bought down in the area. The Brighton midfielder, who went down a little easily under Demetriou's challenge recovered to take the effort and slotted it past the 'keeper.
With three minutes of the half remaining, Neil Etheridge did well to save from Murphy as his deflected effort inched towards goal, the score remained the same as we reached the break.
CAPITAL ONE CUP (ROUND 2) - HALF TIME
WALSALL 0-1 BRIGHTON
The Saddlers got the second half underway and looked to set the tempo in midfield as the visitors also set out their stall.
The first meaningful effort at goal was sent in by Saddlers' summer signing Jason Demetriou who saw his long-range shot curl wide of goal.
At the other end Brighton's Rohan Ince sent an effort well over the bar following good work from March who beat Rico Henry to get the ball in.
Away defender Lewis Dunk was the first player to be booked as he felled Sam Mantom in the middle of the park, a poor challenge from the sought-after man.
With eleven minutes of the second half gone Milan Lalkovic sent a free kick agonisingly close as it went across goal and eventually wide.
Soon after, the Saddlers were the first to make a change as Matt Preston replaced Paul Downing in the centre of defence, a good opportunity for the young defender.
Just past the hour mark the Saddlers had another opportunity as Rico Henry did well down wide and picked out Sam Mantom, who sees his header blocked for a corner.
The initial flag kick was cleared and the Saddlers soon won another, but made a change ahead of it being taken as Reece Flanagan was replaced by Romaine Sawyers.
The second corner was then taken by Kieron Morris but headed out by Dunk as the visitors settled back into an attacking formation.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores as Milan Lalkovic fired home following good play from the Saddlers, Matt Preston did well to send the ball forward to Bradshaw, who pulled the ball back and found Lalkovic for the summer returnee to fire home.
The Saddlers had another attempt at goal as Kieron Morris rode a challenge and forced the 'keeper into a save. Tom Bradshaw headed wide from the resulting corner.
The visitors took their goal kick and broke back up the other end of the field and were awarded another penalty as O'Connor fouled Chris O'Grady.
The tall Brighton striker stepped up to take the effort and sent it wildly over the bar as the Saddlers fans cheered him on.
The visitors soon made their first change of the game as O'Grady was replaced by Hemed, much to the delight of the Saddlers support.
With under fifteen minutes of normal time remaining Walsall's Jordan Cook was the Saddlers' final change of the match as he replaced Milan Lalkovic.
A few minutes later the Saddlers had another opportunity at goal as Jordan Cook sent a deflected effort behind for another corner, which was wasted as the away side cleared.
At the other end, Jason Demetriou was added to the list of bookings as he felled an advanced Lewis Dunk. The free kick came to nothing as we remained all square.
Both sides continued to advance up the pitch as the clock ticked down, Saddler Matt Preston confidently clearing from a March cross.
With around five minutes remaining the Saddlers broke from a Brighton corner and earned themselves a corner kick, which was gathered.
With four minutes of the game remaining Walsall's Romaine Sawyers, following a good ball from Matt Preston, did well to open up the play and find Rico Henry who sent the ball home to give the Saddlers the lead.
With time running out, Brighton boss Chris Hughton made his final changes of the game as LuaLua and Baldock replaced Murphy and Holla.
As the referee awarded five minutes of added time, Jordan Cook sent an effort poorly over the bar, and the Saddlers sought to play down the clock.
Neil Etheridge was called into action as Baldock had an attempt at goal, good alert stuff from the 'keeper as the away side failed to find the net and Dean Smith's Saddlers made it through to Round 3.
CAPITAL ONE CUP (ROUND 2) - RESULT
WALSALL 2-1 BRIGHTON
GOAL: Lalkovic (65'), Henry (86') -- Forster-Caskey PEN (39')
ATTENDANCE: 2,968 (411 Brighton)
REFEREE: Mr. Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
GOAL: Lalkovic (65'), Henry (86') -- Forster-Caskey PEN (39')
ATTENDANCE: 2,968 (411 Brighton)
REFEREE: Mr. Peter Bankes (Merseyside)