Walsall returned to Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Darrell Clarke's Bristol Rovers to the Pallet-Tracket Bescot Stadium.Bristol Rovers got the match underway, and went close to taking an early lead just a minute later, as Jack Sparkes headed the ball on for Fabrizio Cavegn, whose low effort sailed mere inches wide of the upright.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a bright spell, early doors, winning a corner in the third minute, as Harrison Burke turned the ball wide, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Walsall grew into the game as it continued, winning a corner in the seventh minute, as Kacper Lopata put the ball behind, that was followed swiftly by a second as the ball was turned out of play by Bryant Bilongo, with that coming to nothing.
Bilongo was involved again at the other end moments later, as he got on the end of a cross from Cavegn, only to see his effort on goal saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts.
Things settled a little as time wore on, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything of note to test their opposition defences.
However, seventeen minutes into the contest, a free-kick in a promising position allowed the hosts a shot at goal; Charlie Lakin crossing the ball in for Aden Flint, whose header goal-wards had just a little too much height on it.
Former Saddler, Alfie Chang became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, seeing yellow, in the twentieth minute following a foul on Daniel Kanu.
Rovers went close to opening the scoring, in the twenty-fifth minute, as Bilongo played the ball into the box for former Saddler, Ellis Harrison, who dragged his effort wide.
The visiting side had more luck, two minutes later, as Harrison turned provider, crossing the ball in for Cavegn, whose low strike from the centre of the box found the bottom corner, to open the scoring.
Ellis Harrison became the second player to receive a caution, as he was shown the yellow card, in the thirty-ninth minute, following a foul on Flint.
Things remained pretty settled throughout the remainder of the first-half, with the Saddlers unable to create anything that would get them back onto level terms, and after one additional minute was played, the referee brought the first period to a close, with Bristol Rovers leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
Walsall opted to make two changes as the teams returned, with Ryan Finnigan and Lewis Warrington sitting out the second-half, as their places were filled by Courtney Clarke and Brandon Comley.
The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, as they looked to restore parity, which they almost did five minutes in as Lakin found space and crossed a low ball in for Connor Barrett, whose effort on goal was blocked off the line by Lopata.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fifty-fourth minute, allowing Harrison Burke to receive attention from the Walsall medical team. Play resumed but it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Priestley Farquharson was brought on in his place.
Walsall kept the pressure on their visitors as play continued, though they were unable to breakthrough the Rovers defences.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, the hosts chose to make their fourth change of the afternoon, with Charlie Lakin departing in favour of Jamie Jellis.
There was a halt to proceedings at the same time, allowing Josh McEachran to receive attention from the Bristol medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to rejoin the action, and Kamil Conteh was brought on in his place.
The Saddlers finally found a breakthrough, in the sixty-ninth minute, as Vincent Harper crossed the ball in for Aaron Pressley, whose headed effort found the bottom corner to level the scores.
Another pause in play followed in the seventy-fourth minute, allowing Daniel Kanu to be tended to by the medics. It soon became apparent that he would be unable to return to the action, and Albert Adomah was introduced in his place.
Rovers chose to make a second change to their line-up, in the seventy-seventh minute, with Bryant Bilongo making way for Ruel Sotiriou.
Walsall completed the comeback in the seventy-eighth minute, as Barrett crossed the ball into the box for Pressley, who fired home into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.
Jack Sparkes joined those playing on a caution, in the eighty-third minute, as he was shown the yellow card after fouling Jellis.
Courtney Clarke also saw his name taken by the referee, just one minute later, as he was booked for time wasting.
Two minutes from time, Bristol chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Ellis Harrison and Luke Thomas making way for Freddie Issaka and Ollie Dewsbury.
Ten additional minutes were added to end the match, and three minutes into them, Evan Weir saw his name added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned for time wasting.
Brandon Comley also saw his name taken by the referee, ten minutes into those added, as the yellow card was brandished in his direction following a foul on Macauley Southam-Hales.
There was little further action of note, as the Saddlers frustrated their visitors, and the referee brought an end to the contest with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-one. A good display from the hosts who held held their nerve and continued to press to come from behind to take all three points.
| PRESSLEY (69') PRESSLEY (78') |
CAVEGN (27') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | STEPHEN MARTIN |