After losing three of their last four league games, including last Monday's defeat to Crawley Town, the Saddlers played host to title-chasing Port Vale on Saturday afternoon and hoped to climb further from the relegation zone.
Walsall got the action underway, but it was Port Vale who created the first chance of the game, as James Wilson looked to capitalise on a loose pass from Donervon Daniels, though the defender was able to recover to block the strikers effort, with the resulting corner coming to nothing as Nathan Smith headed wide.
The Saddlers were quick to create work the ball up to the other end, with Emmanuel Osadebe playing George Miller in in the fourth minute, however, his effort on goal was blocked by Connor Hall.
Ten minutes into the contest, Walsall won their first corner of the match, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as Ben Garrity was first to the ball and headed clear, but only as far as Tyrese Shade, whose shot from outside the area sailed wide of the upright.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without troubling their opposition defences, though nineteen minutes in, Vale won a corner, as a Wilson effort was blocked by Daniels, though nothing came of the flag-kick.
Another Valiant corner followed three minutes later, but again, nothing would come of the opportunity, as Walsall shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth positioned himself well to collect Hall's headed effort.
Walsall began to show signs of improvement as the game progressed, working the ball up to the other end, where Osadebe did well to work the ball to Brendan Kiernan, but the strikers ball goal-wards was well blocked, before the side won a corner kick, which was played into the box by Shade, and met by the head of Miller, whose effort sailed over the crossbar.
The visiting side went close to opening the scoring in the thirty-seventh minute, as captain, Tom Pett combined with Garrity to play in Jamie Proctor, but the strikers effort on goal sailed over the crossbar.
Vale went on to win a corner two minutes later, as Reece Devine turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as David Worrall saw his effort, from outside the area, blocked.
With forty-three minutes on the clock, Walsall were forced to make their first change of the afternoon, as captain, Joss Labadie found himself unable to continue due to injury, with Sam Perry the man to be brought on in his place.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Hayden White became the first player to see yellow, as he was booked for a foul on Wilson. There was little further action of note though, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
HT
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WFC
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0-0
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PVFC
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Walsall were forced to make a second change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Reece Devine sitting out the second-half due to injury. Rollin Menayese taking his place, as Port Vale got the action back underway.
The second-half got off to a rather quiet start, with little action of note as the two sides took their time to settle back into the game.
With fifty-two minutes on the clock, Nathan Smith became the second player to draw the attentions of the referee, picking up a yellow card for a foul on Perry.
The Saddlers won a corner in the sixty-first minute after another quiet spell, as Aaron Martin deflected the ball out of play, however, nothing would come of the flag-kick as Osadebe's cross was met by Miller, who headed the ball out of play.
Walsall continued to press, and almost opened the scoring in the sixty-fifth minute, as Miller played the ball into the box for Kiernan, whose overhead effort sailed inches wide of the upright.
Unperturbed, the hosts continued to seek an opener, and just two minutes later, were rewarded for their persistence, as Osadebe crossed the ball into the area, where Perry was on hand to turn it home.
The home team sought to double their advantage just two minutes later, as Miller raced forwards with the ball before firing an effort goal-wards, but his curling shot sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Port Vale rolled the dice in the seventy-first minute, making use of all three available substitutions, as David Worrall, Mal Benning and Tom Pett were all asked to make way, and their places taken by Ryan Edmondson, Chris Hussey and David Amoo.
Miller almost doubled the Saddlers advantage in the seventy-fourth minute, with an effort fired goal-wards from a tight angle, but the ball clipped the underside of the crossbar before the danger was cleared.
The visiting side could have restored parity ten minutes from time, but nobody was able to get a touch on Hall's promising ball across the face of goal.
With eighty-three minutes on the clock, Rollin Menayese became the third player to see yellow, as he picked up a caution for time-wasting.
Vale continued to seek a late equaliser as time ebbed away, with Hall seeing an effort from the edge of the area sailing over the crossbar in the eighty-sixth minute, before Chris Hussey saw an effort save by Rushworth moments later.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, and three minutes into them, Walsall put the game to bed, as the ball fell to Osadebe inside the area, after some good play from Hayden White, with the Irishman coolly slotting it past Stone to double his sides advantage.
That would be the final action of note, and the game was brought to it's conclusion with Walsall running out winners by two-goals-to-nil. A much improved performance from the Saddlers, who defended well throughout and continued to seek openings until the last
FT
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WFC
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2-0
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PVFC
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Perry (67') Osadebe (90+3')
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REFEREE
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Tom Nield
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ATTENDANCE
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6,840 (2,245)
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AT
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Banks's Stadium
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