After failing to win their three previous games which opened 2022, the Saddlers took on Exeter City in the 'Matt Taylor Derby' as they looked to get their recent climb up the table back on track at the Banks's.
The first goal of the match arrived just before first-half stoppage time, as Timothée Dieng headed home from an Archie Collins corner kick. Yet more slack defending, sending the Saddlers into the break a goal behind.
The Saddlers were dealt a further blow in the second-half as defender Rollin Menayese was shown the red card, after collecting a second yellow, adding to the already growing defensive issues.
The match was ultimately settled with five minutes of normal time remaining as Cheick Diabate put the ball beyond Carl Rushworth and into the back of the net, the goal arriving mere moments after the stopper had pulled off another superb save.
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
|
WFC
|
0-2
|
ECFC
|
Dieng (44') Diabate (84')
|
37
|
POSS. (%)
|
63
|
8
|
SHOTS
|
15
|
3
|
AT GOAL
|
9
|
4
|
CORNERS
|
9
|
13
|
FOULS
|
9
|
3
|
BOOKED
|
2
|
1
|
SENT OFF
|
0
|
VENUE
|
Banks's Stadium
|
ATTENDANCE
|
TBC
|
REFEREE
|
Darren Handley
|
WALSALL
Rushworth; White 🟨, Leak, Menayese 🟨🟨🟥, Ward (Mills, 34'); Kinsella, Labadie; Kiernan, Earing, Shade (Miller, 56'); Wilkinson (Phillips, 78')
Unused: Rose; Bates, Perry; Osadebe
EXETER CITY
Dawson; Key, Sweeney, Stubbs 🟨, Diabate 🟨, Caprice, Collins, Dieng, Jay, J.Brown, Zanzala (Amond, 17')
Unused: S.Brown, Sparkes, Grounds, Atangana, Taylor, Coley