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Walsall were back in league action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to Rodney Parade and took on Newport County in what was both sides' fifteenth outing of the ongoing campaign.After failing to win any of their last three league games, the Saddlers were hoping to build upon last weekend's Emirates FA Cup triumph over Eastleigh and return to winning ways.
Walsall began the game brightly, going close inside the opening minute, as Courtney Clarke crossed the ball into the box, towards the back post, where Aaron Pressley was on hand to turn it goal-wards, but his effort had a little too much height on it as he sent it over from close range.
The Saddlers continued to seek an early goal, going close again in the sixth minute after winning a corner as Cameron Evans turned the ball behind; the ball in by Evan Weir caused Newport issues, with it eventually falling to Clarke, but his effort was cleared off the line.
County created their first chance of the afternoon soon after, as Cameron Antwi played the ball through for Kai Whitmore, whose effort on goal sailed high and wide.
Walsall were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where Weir set up Daniel Kanu, but the striker was unable to find the target, as his effort was saved by Newport 'keeper, Jordan Wright, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
There was a brief pause in proceedings in the eleventh minute, allowing Joe Thomas to receive attention from the County medics. He was soon back on his feet though, and play resumed.
Newport grew more into the game as it continued, and with sixteen minutes on the clock, they found the breakthrough, as Habeeb Ogunneye worked the ball down the right channel before crossing to Whitmore who fired into the top corner from the edge of the area.
It took the Saddlers just one minute to restore parity, as a Charlie Lakin strike from distance hit the post, allowing Kanu to tuck the rebound into the bottom corner.
Just two minutes later, the Saddlers took the lead, as a Kanu strike was parried by Wright, into the path of Ryan Finnigan who fired home from the centre of the box.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides seeing spells with the ball without creating anything further of note, until there was another pause in play, in the twenty-seventh minute, as Joe Thomas went down for a second time, requiring treatment. It was soon decided that he would be unable to continue, and Akinwale Odimayo was introduced in his place.
The Saddlers sought to add a third to their tally, going close shortly after the half hour mark as Finnigan played the ball in to Connor Barrett, who dragged his effort wide from the edge of the area.
Thirty-eight minutes into the contest, Walsall added to the scoreline, as a long throw from Weir was flicked on by both Aden Flint and Clarke before falling to Finnigan, whose initial headed effort was saved by Wright before the Blackpool loanee bundled home the rebound.
Newport attempted to halve the deficit before the break, going close in the fortieth minute as Sammy Braybrooke crossed to Courtney Baker-Richardson, whose shot was blocked by the Walsall defence.
County were more successful in the forty-fourth minute, as Baker-Richardson headed the ball on for Gerard Garner, who fired home, into the bottom corner from the centre of the box to keep his side in the game.
Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Vincent Harper saw a headed effort miss the target, before Garner fired over at the other end moments later.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by three-goals-to-two at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the action back underway. Just three minutes after the restart, Habeeb Ogunneye picked up the first yellow card of the game, as he was cautioned following a foul on Clarke.
Aden Flint joined the Newport man in the referee's notebook, just two minutes later, as he was shown the yellow card for dissent.
With fifty-two minutes on the clock, the Saddlers restored their earlier two-goal cushion, as a foul on Kanu won the side a free-kick, which was crossed into the box by Weir for Rico Browne, who tapped home into the bottom corner to secure his first goal in a Walsall shirt.
The hosts soon had the ball back at the other end, where Braybrooke looked to set up Baker-Richardson, whose effort on goal was blocked, before Ben Lloyd fired a follow-up effort high and wide.
Sammy Braybrooke joined those playing on a caution, in the fifty-seventh minute, as he was shown the yellow card for dissent.
Just four minutes later, both Connor Barrett and Ben Lloyd also joined the growing ranks seeing yellow as the two were booked after getting into an argument.
Kai Whitmore joined those already playing on a caution, in the sixty-fifth minute, as his name was also taken by the referee.
Newport chose to make two changes to their line-up, in the sixty-ninth minute, as Kai Whitmore and Ben Lloyd making way for Michael Reindorf and Bobby Kamwa. Walsall also took the opportunity to make their first change of the afternoon, with Aaron Pressley departing in favour of Jamille Matt.
Walsall looked to add to their tally as the game continued, with Clarke seeing an effort from outside the area sail high and wide of the target, in the seventy-third minute, moments before Finnigan played the ball to Kanu, whose strike from the edge of the area was saved by Wright.
The Saddlers opted to make three further changes to their line-up in the seventy-eighth minute, with Rico Browne, Daniel Kanu and Ryan Finnigan making way for Priestley Farquharson, Albert Adomah and Lewis Warrington.
The final ten minutes were a quieter affair, as County sought to get back into the game but were thwarted at every opportunity by a well-organised Walsall defence.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Walsall made their fifth and final change of the afternoon, as an injury to Evan Weir saw him depart early, as his place was filled by Jid Okeke.
There was little further action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by four-goals-to-two.
| WHITMORE (16') GARNER (44') |
KANU (17') FINNIGAN (19') FINNIGAN (37') BROWNE (52') |
| AT | RODNEY PARADE |
| REFEREE | BEN ATKINSON |