On Tuesday evening, Walsall travelled to Highbury Stadium, where they took on Fleetwood Town in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. You can read our match report below.
An unchanged Saddlers side got us under way, but it was the home team who had the first shot on goal through Wes Burns. Thankfully for Walsall, it was a tame effort from twenty five yards, which went wide of the post.
Moments later Walsall were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box. Mantom stepped up to take the kick, his right-footed shot brushed the side-netting as it went wide of the near post.
Walsall kept up the pressure and were rewarded with the first corner of the game as the ball was blocked as Sawyers looked to send in a cross. The flag-kick was taken by Taylor but David Ball was well placed to clear the danger.
Ball was again involved in the action, demonstrating some lovely skill to flick the ball over a Walsall head and drawing a foul in the process. Fleetwood were awarded a free-kick for the trip, which Ryan took. The ball was flicked on by David with Burns looming, but the visitors were able to clear the ball over the bar, gifting the home side a corner, which was taken quickly and easily cleared.
The hosts had another shot shortly after, Burns hitting the ball sweetly from twenty yards out, which went close but cleared the bar. Etheridge looked to have it covered in any eventuality.
Burns was again involved, winning a free-kick for a trip just outside the box. He stepped up to take the kick and sent a thunderous shot harmlessly over the bar.
Shortly after, Burns was yet again involved, whipping the ball onto the head of David Ball, whose header was easily collected by Neil Etheridge. Burns proving to be a real nuisance for the Saddlers.
The Saddlers finally found themselves in a position to create an opening after a busy spell defending, as Sawyers picked out a waiting Mantom, who did well to get the ball onto his left foot before sending a shot in. The ball was blocked and the danger cleared, but much better from the visiting team.
With half an hour played, Walsall almost created another chance, with Sawyers and Mantom combining well to set up Jordy Hiwula, who overran the ball.
The Saddlers kept up the pressure, as Demetriou tried to pick out Bradshaw in the area, his cross was too deep and found its way harmlessly out of play.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining, the hosts again strung some lovely passes together, before Burns once again found himself with the goal in sight, he did well to turn his marker but fired wildly over the bar.
Back at the other end, Tom Bradshaw went down in the box. The referee was uninterested and waved play on.
With five minutes to play, Walsall were awarded a corner as Mantom saw his long-range effort deflected wide of goal. The corner was taken quickly but came to nothing.
The Saddlers won another corner in the final minute of the half, as Hiwula did well to work the ball to Henry in the box, but Conor McLaughlin had it covered and blocked the shot. As with the previous flag-kick, it was easily dealt with by the Fleetwood defence.
One minute was added to the half, but there was no further action and the teams went in level at the break.
The hosts opted to make their first substitution at the break, introducing Devante Cole in place of Ash Hunter, as they got us back under way for the second half.
It took just four minutes for Walsall to find the opening goal of the match, a superb strike from Tom Bradshaw, following a clever back-heel from Sam Mantom.
The hosts looked to find a quick equaliser as Jimmy Ryan found himself in space but his shot sailed harmlessly over the bar without troubling Neil Etheridge.
Ten minutes into the half, a right-footed Sawyers strike from outside the box almost doubled the Saddlers lead, but the ball went just wide.
Moments after Sawyers attack, Bell burst into the Walsall penalty area where his shot was defelected wide to win the hosts a corner. Burns managed to get a shot in from the corner, but it didn't trouble Etheridge.
Looking to make amends for his tame effort, Burns again got himself involved, beating Chambers to get to the edge of the area before sending a shot in, drawing an excellent one-handed save from Etheridge.
With an hour on the clock, Walsall got the ball back up to the other end, where Hiwula set up Bradshaw, who was unable to create space to get a shot in. The ball fell kindly for Mantom but his attempt was blocked.
Walsall were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box as McLaughlin was ajudged to have committed a foul. Very close to being inside the box and a penalty for the Saddlers. As it was though, the free-kick was taken and cleared behind by the hosts.
The resulting corner was easily cleared by Fleetwood, but Walsall swiftly regained possession. An excellent spell of play for the Saddlers.
With sixty eight minutes on the clock, Mantom fed the ball to Tom Bradshaw who did well to get his shot away under pressure, but unfortunately for the Saddlers, his shot was wayward and went wide of goal.
With twenty minutes to play, Fleetwood opted to make their second change of the game, bringing on Ameobi in place of Ball. Walsall also chose to make a change, with Forde replacing Hiwula.
Fifteen minutes from time, Chambers and Burns collided, with the Walsall skipper appearing to be in some pain. After a short spell of treatment he was able to return to continue.
As the game got back under way, Burns sent a cross into the box, which was blocked and put out for a corner. Davies managed to get his head to the ball from the corner but the ball was deflected allowing Etheridge to gather.
That would be the last of the nights action for Chambers, as he was unable to continue and Kinsella was brought on in his place.
With under ten minutes of the game remaining, Jimmy Ryan went close to finding an equaliser, but Etheridge was just able to get enough onto his thunderous strike to pad it safely away.
With eighty seven minutes played, Fleetwood introduced their third and final change of the night as Haughton entered the field of play in place of Jonsson. Walsall also made a change, with Lalkovic replacing Bradshaw.
In the final moments of the six additional minutes, Neil Etheridge was called into action once more and produced a fantastic save to deny Cole. The Saddlers stopper doing enough to ensure all three points went back to the Midlands.
Moments later Walsall were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box. Mantom stepped up to take the kick, his right-footed shot brushed the side-netting as it went wide of the near post.
Walsall kept up the pressure and were rewarded with the first corner of the game as the ball was blocked as Sawyers looked to send in a cross. The flag-kick was taken by Taylor but David Ball was well placed to clear the danger.
Ball was again involved in the action, demonstrating some lovely skill to flick the ball over a Walsall head and drawing a foul in the process. Fleetwood were awarded a free-kick for the trip, which Ryan took. The ball was flicked on by David with Burns looming, but the visitors were able to clear the ball over the bar, gifting the home side a corner, which was taken quickly and easily cleared.
The hosts had another shot shortly after, Burns hitting the ball sweetly from twenty yards out, which went close but cleared the bar. Etheridge looked to have it covered in any eventuality.
Burns was again involved, winning a free-kick for a trip just outside the box. He stepped up to take the kick and sent a thunderous shot harmlessly over the bar.
Shortly after, Burns was yet again involved, whipping the ball onto the head of David Ball, whose header was easily collected by Neil Etheridge. Burns proving to be a real nuisance for the Saddlers.
The Saddlers finally found themselves in a position to create an opening after a busy spell defending, as Sawyers picked out a waiting Mantom, who did well to get the ball onto his left foot before sending a shot in. The ball was blocked and the danger cleared, but much better from the visiting team.
With half an hour played, Walsall almost created another chance, with Sawyers and Mantom combining well to set up Jordy Hiwula, who overran the ball.
The Saddlers kept up the pressure, as Demetriou tried to pick out Bradshaw in the area, his cross was too deep and found its way harmlessly out of play.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining, the hosts again strung some lovely passes together, before Burns once again found himself with the goal in sight, he did well to turn his marker but fired wildly over the bar.
Back at the other end, Tom Bradshaw went down in the box. The referee was uninterested and waved play on.
With five minutes to play, Walsall were awarded a corner as Mantom saw his long-range effort deflected wide of goal. The corner was taken quickly but came to nothing.
The Saddlers won another corner in the final minute of the half, as Hiwula did well to work the ball to Henry in the box, but Conor McLaughlin had it covered and blocked the shot. As with the previous flag-kick, it was easily dealt with by the Fleetwood defence.
One minute was added to the half, but there was no further action and the teams went in level at the break.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 | HALF TIME
FLEETWOOD TOWN 0 WALSALL 0
The hosts opted to make their first substitution at the break, introducing Devante Cole in place of Ash Hunter, as they got us back under way for the second half.
It took just four minutes for Walsall to find the opening goal of the match, a superb strike from Tom Bradshaw, following a clever back-heel from Sam Mantom.
The hosts looked to find a quick equaliser as Jimmy Ryan found himself in space but his shot sailed harmlessly over the bar without troubling Neil Etheridge.
Ten minutes into the half, a right-footed Sawyers strike from outside the box almost doubled the Saddlers lead, but the ball went just wide.
Moments after Sawyers attack, Bell burst into the Walsall penalty area where his shot was defelected wide to win the hosts a corner. Burns managed to get a shot in from the corner, but it didn't trouble Etheridge.
Looking to make amends for his tame effort, Burns again got himself involved, beating Chambers to get to the edge of the area before sending a shot in, drawing an excellent one-handed save from Etheridge.
With an hour on the clock, Walsall got the ball back up to the other end, where Hiwula set up Bradshaw, who was unable to create space to get a shot in. The ball fell kindly for Mantom but his attempt was blocked.
Walsall were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box as McLaughlin was ajudged to have committed a foul. Very close to being inside the box and a penalty for the Saddlers. As it was though, the free-kick was taken and cleared behind by the hosts.
The resulting corner was easily cleared by Fleetwood, but Walsall swiftly regained possession. An excellent spell of play for the Saddlers.
With sixty eight minutes on the clock, Mantom fed the ball to Tom Bradshaw who did well to get his shot away under pressure, but unfortunately for the Saddlers, his shot was wayward and went wide of goal.
With twenty minutes to play, Fleetwood opted to make their second change of the game, bringing on Ameobi in place of Ball. Walsall also chose to make a change, with Forde replacing Hiwula.
Fifteen minutes from time, Chambers and Burns collided, with the Walsall skipper appearing to be in some pain. After a short spell of treatment he was able to return to continue.
As the game got back under way, Burns sent a cross into the box, which was blocked and put out for a corner. Davies managed to get his head to the ball from the corner but the ball was deflected allowing Etheridge to gather.
That would be the last of the nights action for Chambers, as he was unable to continue and Kinsella was brought on in his place.
With under ten minutes of the game remaining, Jimmy Ryan went close to finding an equaliser, but Etheridge was just able to get enough onto his thunderous strike to pad it safely away.
With eighty seven minutes played, Fleetwood introduced their third and final change of the night as Haughton entered the field of play in place of Jonsson. Walsall also made a change, with Lalkovic replacing Bradshaw.
In the final moments of the six additional minutes, Neil Etheridge was called into action once more and produced a fantastic save to deny Cole. The Saddlers stopper doing enough to ensure all three points went back to the Midlands.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 | RESULT
FLEETWOOD TOWN 0 WALSALL 1
GOAL | Bradshaw (49')ATTENDANCE | 2,569
REFEREE | Mr. Chris Kavanagh | Lancashire