Walsall were looking to bounce back from Saturday's humiliating four-nil defeat to Sutton United as they welcomed Forest Green Rovers to WS1 in their latest EFL Trophy outing of the season.
The first goal of the game didn't arrive until around six minutes into the second half as Tyrese Omotoye put the ball beyond Jackson Smith and into the back of the net following Teddy Jenks' low cross into the box.
Walsall had an opportunity to level the scores shortly before the game reached the hour mark as Tom Knowles was felled inside the area, however, Ross Tierney failed to take advantage as his spot-kick was saved.
The Saddlers were ultimately able to level the scores later in the half as Isaac Hutchinson capped off a neat attacking move, involving Tom Knowles and Danny Johnson, with a powerful shot on goal.
As the match finished all-square Forest Green would go on to win the post-match shoot out 2-4 and take a bonus point.
EFL TROPHY - SOUTHERN GROUP A
| WALSALL | 1-1 | FOREST GREEN |
| HUTCHINSON (67') | GOALSCORERS | OMOTOYE (51') |
| JOHNSON (67') | ASSISTS | JENKS (51') |
| STIRK (SAVED) JAMES-TAYLOR (SCORES) McENTEE (SCORES) JOHNSON (SAVED) |
PENALTIES |
STEVENS (SCORED) TAYLOR (SCORED) ROBSON (SCORED) BUNKER (SCORED) |
| 42 | POSS (%) | 58 |
| 15 | SHOTS (TOTAL) | 9 |
| 5 | SHOTS (ON TARGET) | 4 |
| 5 | CORNERS | 4 |
| 8 | FOULS | 22 |
| 0 | YELLOW CARDS | 3 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| ATTENDANCE | 1,516 (47 AWAY) |
| REFEREE | STEPHEN PARKINSON |
WALSALL
Smith; Foulkes, McEntee, Williams, Allen; Knowles, Stirk, Griffiths (Comley, 64'), Tierney (Johnson, 64'), Hutchinson, James-Taylor
Unused: Barrett; Riley, Menayese, Thomas, Matt
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Searle; Lavinier 🟨, Johnson, Welch 🟨 (Bernard, 61') Robson, Bendle, Jenks, Maddox 🟨 (Bunker, 46'), Omotoye (Robinson, 82'), Stevens, Morton (Taylor, 46')
Unused: Pagel, Carter, Thompson