REPORT: Southend United 0 Walsall 2 REPORT: Southend United 0 Walsall 2

REPORT: Southend United 0 Walsall 2

Earlier today, Walsall Football Club travelled South to Roots Hall as they faced Southend United in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. You can read our latest match report below.
Earlier today, Walsall Football Club travelled South to Roots Hall as they faced Southend United in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. You can read our latest match report below.

It was the home side that got the game underway, Deegan had an early sight of goal but it was Pigott who had the opening shot of the game, his effort was parried to Wordsworth who shot wide with Etheridge scrambling.

At the other end Walsall's Sam Mantom sent an effort wide of goal following a good passage of play, nice pass and move stuff from the Saddlers.

The game then began to settle down, with both sides looking to get a foot on the ball; the Saddlers' Rico Henry seemed keen to push up the wing as United struggled to deal with his pace.

It was the Saddlers who opened the scoring after nine minutes, last season's top-scorer Tom Bradshaw turned well into the box and hit a left-footed strike into the corner of the net, another good finish from the sought after front-man.

Later, Tom Bradshaw had another effort on goal following good endeavour from Demetriou, he swept up a loose Leonard pass and drove at the back four before finding Bradshaw, who saw his shot blocked.

The home side were awarded the first corner of the game after Rico Henry defended well from a White header; Wordsworth delivered a dangerous cross which was partially cleared, before the ball back in was also cleared, allowing the Saddlers to counter.

Walsall broke up the other end and saw their possession ended by a well packed home defence.

A Weston cross was sliced over the bar by Adam Chambers, the resulting corner was eventually cleared as Etheridge struggled to grasp the ball.

The Saddlers won a corner of their own following good play from Rico Henry, a good recovering tackle from White. The corner came to nothing as Southend cleared.

After a brief panic in defence for the Saddlers the homeside were eventually awarded a free kick, a poor pass from Paul Downing allowing the home side in.

The Shrimpers' free kick came to nothing as Walsall were awarded one of their own for a foul on James O'Connor.

The home side continued on the attack as Leonard sent a dangerous ball across goal, luckily for Walsall no-one was in the box to take advantage, although the ball was then sent over the bar in frustration.

As the half continued, the Walsall midfield looked to control the tempo of the game, lots of passing, plenty of movement.

Sam Mantom, who found himself in an advanced position, was the target of a Romaine Sawyers pull back but could only send his shot into the hands of the 'keeper.

Soon after,Reece Flanagan shot high and wide, a good chance for the Saddlers as the home side were forced into an early tactical change; Jack Payne replaced Mooney with the Shrimpers struggling to get the ball as Walsall dominated.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Walsall's wingers, Henry and Demetriou, continued to pose a threat, their added speed and width really starting to stretch the opposition.

Walsall were awarded a free kick out on the left as the home side looked to prevent another attack; Andy Taylor sent the ball in but it was eventually cleared as far as Adam Chambers, before the ball in was also cleared.

Following poor control from Sawyers, the hosts countered but saw a Coker cross cleared by Flanagan; Walsall then broke up the other end and had a deflected Mantom shot saved, alert stuff from Bentley.

As half time closed in, Walsall continued to keep the ball, Jason Demetriou saw an effort blocked, the home sides' clearance was worked to Weston, his cross almost clearing the stand as the home fans vented their frustration.

Just before the break Walsall won a couple of corners, but couldn't take advantage as it remained one-nil at half time.

SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - HALF TIME
SOUTHEND UNITED 0 WALSALL 1

Both sides were unchanged following the break, and it was Walsall that got the game back underway.

United looked to get back into the game quickly as Weston broke down the wing, his cross was easily gathered by Neil Etheridge as the attackers tried to get into the box.

The home side then won a corner, which eventually fell for Pigott, his curling cross drifted wide of the Walsall goal.

The Saddlers immediately doubled their advantage from the goal kick, as they broke down the Southend left, an Andy Taylor cross was deflected into the path of Sam Mantom, who calmly sent the ball past the 'keeper from the edge of the box, his first goal in seventeen months and a great start to the second half for Walsall.

After fifty-four minutes the home side made their second change of the game as Gary Deegan was replaced by David Worrall.

Shortly after the change Walsall had another attempt at goal as Tom Bradshaw fed an unmarked Romaine Sawyers who could only force a save out of the goalkeeper, unlucky for Romaine but a good stop from Bentley.

The Saddlers continued to pile on the pressure as Andy Taylor found himself in space and sent a header over the bar.

At the other end, Southend's Leonard has a good attempt at goal as his dipping effort flew just over the bar.

Walsall had yet another shot on goal as Sam Mantom tested the 'keeper's reflexes from distance, another solid stop between the sticks.

The Saddlers also remained alert at the back as Andy Taylor robbed the ball off Pigott just as he was set to shoot.

Just past the hour mark, Adam Chambers continued to look solid as he tracked his man for what seemed like half the length of the field and forced a goal kick.

After a couple of quiet minutes the home side had a goal chalked-off as Wordsworth headed Worrall's cross in from an offside position, a little lucky for the Saddlers.

Worrall was involved again soon after as he cut inside and unleashed a shot, a solid save from Etheridge as the Saddlers remained two-nil up.

Walsall then made their first changes of the game as James Baxendale and Anthony Forde replaced Reece Flanagan and Rico Henry. The opposition also made what would be their final change of the game as former Saddler Kevan Hurst replaced Myles Weston.

Southend's Cian Bolger was booked for a poor tackle on Sam Mantom, a sign of a little frustration from the hosts as the clock ticked on.

Anthony Forde did well to gain the ball in midfield, he fed Tom Bradshaw, who saw his shot blocked; the home side broke but could only call the car park attendant into action as Leonard's ball cleared the stand.

The home side continued to be a danger as Payne showed good feet to beat his man, sadly, for the home side, his cross was too high for Worrall as Walsall cleared.

The hosts then won a corner, which was taken by Wordsworth, his ball found Worrall who directed it towards the Walsall goal, only a goal-line clearance from Demetriou could prevent Southend from opening their account.

Walsall made their final change of the game as Tom Bradshaw was replaced by Jordan Cook.

Soon after the change a sweet pass from Baxendale finds Mantom in space, his effort is saved well by Bentley, who remained alert.

Following the goal kick, Baxendale had a chance of his own as Bolger did well to clear his goal-bound effort.

Back at the other end Walsall's Neil Etheridge did well to save following a nicely worked move, which ended with a volley from Kevan Hurst, Barratt and Bolger combining well to make the opportunity.

As Neil Etheridge was booked for time wasting Southend's Pigott headed wide from a Worrall cross, certainly plenty of chances for the home side as we neared full time.

As we reached added on time, which was revealed to be five minutes, Southend's Anthony Wordsworth was booked for a foul on Neil Etheridge.

With time ticking away, Paul Downing showed nerves of steel as he headed a Payne ball back to the keeper.

At the other end Daniel Bentley was again alert to deny Walsall another goal, Cook's shot palmed well then saved as the Saddlers headed to victory.

The hosts had a late corner which ended with a Bolger volley over the bar as the referee soon blew for full-time, a great win on the road for Walsall as they continue to impress in their new formation.

SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - RESULT
SOUTHEND UNITED 0 WALSALL 2
GOALS: Bradshaw (8') Mantom (48')
ATTENDANCE: 6,149 (373 Walsall)
REFEREE: Mr. Andy Davies (Hampshire)
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