On Tuesday evening, Walsall Football Club travelled to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest in the First Round of this season's Capital One Cup competition, you can see our match report below.The hosts Nottingham Forest got the game underway and the match was fairly even in the opening moments, both sides looking to pass the ball, summer signing Jason Demetriou had the first shot of the contest, but it didn't test the 'keeper as it went well wide of goal.
Walsall won the opening corner of the match, a Rico Henry pull-back found Sam Mantom who had an effort blocked for the flag kick.
Former Saddler Danny Fox rose well to head the corner away and the hosts gathered the rebound and looked to attack.
With around ten minutes of the game gone, Forest's Tyler Walker broke down the right and sent in a dangerous cross, Jamie Ward could only send the effort over the bar.
The Saddlers broke down the field and were awarded a free kick by referee Darren Handley, Jack Hobbs with a late tackle on Milan Lalkovic. The free kick was gathered by the goalkeeper following a slight deflection off the wall.
Walsall opened the scoring with eleven minutes on the clock, Milan Lalkovic found space out wide and drilled the ball across goal, last season's top-scorer Tom Bradshaw was open at the back post and tapped home from close-range.
Dean Smith's side doubled their lead a few minutes later, Rico Henry found space down the left, and fed the ball to Mantom at the by-line, his ball in was turned home by an outstretched and under pressure Tom Bradshaw.
Just before the twenty-minute mark Forest's Jamie Ward found space following an effort by Reece Flanagan, he had a shot on goal, but saw his effort curl wide of Neil Etheridge's post, the 'keeper confident he'd got his measurements correct.
Walsall continued to look for space in midfield, and enjoyed good spells of possession, the home side looked a little bereft of ideas from time-to-time as the Saddlers kept up the tempo.
As the match reached the thirty minute mark the Saddlers engineered a good attacking move which resulted in a shot from winger Kieron Morris, his effort going wide of goal.
Soon after, the home side, who had a good spell of possession, saw a deflected effort strike the crossbar, a Chris Burke shot hitting James O'Connor and rattling Etheridge's bar.
The home side got their opening goal of the game after thirty-two minutes, a well-worked corner finding Tyler Walker to tap home at the back post. Former Saddler Jamie Paterson with the initial pass across goal.
With under ten minutes of the half remaining, Walsall's Milan Lalkovic showed quick feet in the Forest area as his powerful effort is saved well by 'keeper De Vries, a great build-up from the travelling side.
With just under forty minutes gone, Nottingham Forest won a corner which Burke stepped up to take, his cross was poor but eventually fell for Danny Fox, the ball back in came to nothing as Neil Etheridge was fouled and a free kick was awarded.
As three minutes of added time were awarded, the home side continued to be in charge of proceedings, a succession of corners saw Jamie Paterson strike the post, and Danny Fox test the 'keeper, the Saddlers stood firm and lead at the break.
CAPITAL ONE CUP (FIRST ROUND) - HALF TIME
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1-2 WALSALL
Walsall kicked off the second half, both sides had remained unchanged following the break.
The second period was slower to get going than the first, Saddlers Captain Adam Chambers suffered an injury early on and received treatment from Jon Whitney, attacker Romaine Sawyers was prepared to come on but wasn't needed following the magic sponge treatment.
Former Saddler Jamie Paterson had the first meaningful effort on goal, as he saw his edge-of-the-area effort go over the Saddlers bar, a nice move from the home side as they looked to get back on level terms.
With around ten minutes of the half gone, Adam Chambers was forced off the field and replaced by Romaine Sawyers, the injury proving to be more of an issue that he'd have hoped.
Walsall won their first corner of the half as Forest did well to get numbers behind the ball. Kieron Morris took the flag-kick but Forest cleared the danger.
Substitute Sawyers saw an effort go over the bar as the home side backed off, unlucky for the attacker following a nice passing move, he may feel he could've done better with the space he was afforded.
Ex-Walsall winger Jamie Paterson found the side netting following an initially cleared cross, a good burst into the box by Pato.
Both sides continued to enjoy spells of possession, but were forced into efforts from distance and probing passes as the defences stood firm.
Following some nice play between Sam Mantom and Romaine Sawyers, Reece Flanagan saw an effort deflected for a corner.
The home side made a change before the corner could be taken as Jamie Paterson was replaced by Dexter Blackstock. The Saddlers' corner was eventually cleared as the home side broke down the field and saw an effort of their own go to waste.
Soon after Walsall made a change as Milan Lalkovic was replaced by Anthony Forde. Walsall were swiftly awarded a free kick which also saw Mancienne collect a booking. Forde's free kick deflected for a corner, which was also dealt with by an alert 'keeper
Michail Antonio and Oliver Burke replaced Jamie Ward and Chris Burke as Forest looked for fresh legs.
Walsall stretched their advantage with around ten minutes of the half remaining, a worked move saw a Morris effort saved as Romaine Sawyers lashed home inside the area.
The home side got themselves back into the game almost immediately as substitute Antonio struck from distance, very little Etheridge could do.
As Jason Demetriou was booked for a pull down on Burke Walsall were eventually allowed to make their final change of the game, Jordan Cook replacing Kieron Morris.
Substitute Antonio has boosted the home fans as they sprung into life and got behind their side. Walsall struggled to keep track of him as the home team looked to send all attacks through the popular attacker.
Walsall continued to weather the storm as Forest pushed high up the field, Etheridge being forced to punch out as the balls came into the box.
Rico Henry was also alert to a cross as the ball was played in deep, the resulting corner was eventually sent home by the ever active Antonio, Walsall failing to clear the initial danger.
Soon after, Antonio was again involved, a fast paced run into the Saddlers half saw his ball drift past his team-mates.
Oliver Burke also sent an effort wide of goal as his marker recovered to put him off his stride.
With the game deep in stoppage time Walsall were awarded a penalty, Sawyers found Bradshaw who looked to have been felled in the box. The Shrewsbury born striker recovered to take, and convert the kick, 4-3 to Walsall with just moments to go...
CAPITAL ONE CUP (FIRST ROUND) - RESULT
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3-4 WALSALL
GOALS: Walker (32'), Antonio (81', 90') - Bradshaw (11', 14', 90+5(PEN)), Sawyers (79')
ATTENDANCE: 5,237 (669 Walsall)
REFEREE: Mr Darren Handley (Lancashire)
GOALS: Walker (32'), Antonio (81', 90') - Bradshaw (11', 14', 90+5(PEN)), Sawyers (79')
ATTENDANCE: 5,237 (669 Walsall)
REFEREE: Mr Darren Handley (Lancashire)