Walsall returned to action on Sunday afternoon as they made their way to Carrow Road and took on Championship outfit Norwich City in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup.Both teams took some time to settle into the contest during a quiet opening quarter of an hour. Walsall saw plenty of the early ball though, but were unable to create anything of note.
With fifteen on the clock, Norwich opened the scoring with their first chance of the game, as Anis Ben Slimane set up Matej Jurásek, who fired a powerful effort past Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts to give his side the early advantage.
The hosts continued to press, and could have doubled their lead in the eighteenth minute as Jacob Wright crossed the ball in for Jovon Makama, whose effort on goal was saved by an alert Roberts.
Norwich doubled their advantage in the twenty-fourth minute, as a Jack Stacey effort was blocked by Aden Flint into the path of Makama who fired home from close range.
City could have added another to their tally just two minutes later, as Makama played the ball in for Ben Chrisene, whose shot on goal was parried by Roberts, before Ben Slimane fired in an effort from the rebound which was cleared off the line by Evan Weir.
There was a brief halt to proceedings as we reached the half hour mark, allowing Roberts to receive some attention from the medical team, whilst the rest of the team regrouped. Play soon resumed, with the goalkeeper fine to continue.
Roberts was soon brought back into the action by Makama, who beat Priestley Farquharson and raced goal-wards, before firing in an effort which drew a fine low save from the 'keeper.
There was no let up, and Roberts was again called into action in the thirty-sixth minute, as Mathias Kvistgaarden was played through on goal, but the 'keeper got out to take the ball from him, though the offside flag was then raised so any goal would not have stood.
There was another pause in play in the thirty-ninth minute, allowing Kvistgaarden to receive attention from the Norwich medics, but play soon resumed.
The hosts went close again in the forty-first minute, as Stacey crossed the ball in for Jurásek, who fired goal-wards towards the near post, forcing a diving save from Roberts, who did well to keep it out.
Norwich won a corner in the forty-fourth minute, as Weir turned the ball out of play, from which Flint headed the inswinging ball out of play forcing a second flag-kick, which in turn brought about a third as Daniel Kanu turned the ball behind. A fourth then followed as Vincent Harper put the ball out of play, with that being headed out by Kanu, and the fifth finally saw the ball cleared.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note until the final of them, when Makama fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area. That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Norwich leading by two-goals-to-nil.
Walsall opted to make a double change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Brandon Comley and Priestley Farquharson sitting out the second-half, as Courtney Clarke and Albert Adomah joined the fray.
Just three minutes after the second-half began, Norwich all but put the game to bed, as Slimane played a ball into the box from Jurásek on for Makama, who fired home from the centre of the box.
Walsall could have pulled a goal back five minutes into the half, as Harper crossed the ball into the box for Kanu, but the strikers headed effort sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Norwich soon had the ball back at the other end, where they won a corner as Clarke turned the ball out of play. A second followed swiftly, as Kanu turned the first wide, but nothing would come of that as Kvistgaarden's headed effort was blocked by Clarke, with the resulting flag-kick coming to nothing as another header by Kvistgaarden was saved by Roberts.
The Saddlers opted to make a third change to their line-up, in the fifty-fifth minute, with Priestley Farquharson making way for Rico Browne.
Norwich added a fourth to their tally, moments after the Walsall change was completed, as Chrisene crossed the ball in for Makama, who fired home from the centre of the box, to complete his hat-trick.
That would prove to be Jovon Makama's final involvement of note, as he and Ruairi McConville were substituted in the fifty-ninth minute, allowing Oscar Schwartau and Jakov Medić to join the fray.
The hosts won another corner in the sixty-third minute, as Roberts made a strong save to deny Pelle Mattsson, and the hosts almost added a fifth goal, as Jurásek's ball in was headed goal-wards by Medić, but his effort sailed inches wide of the upright.
Walsall won a corner at the other end, in the sixty-sixth minute, their first of the game. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, but the Saddlers were able to keep the move alive, and eventually the ball fell to Clarke, who drove into space before firing a spectacular curling effort home from outside the area to pull a goal back.
The Saddlers chose to make another double change, in the seventy-second minute, with Jamie Jellis and Daniel Kanu making way for Alex Pattison and Jamille Matt.
Moments before the changes were completed, the visiting side had won their second corner of the game, as a Kanu effort from outside the box was turned behind. Clarke played the ball in from flag-kick, and Matt was quick to get involved, as he headed goal-wards, but he was unable to find the target.
Norwich chose to make a double change themselves, fifteen minutes from time, with Matej Jurásek and Anis Ben Slimane making way for Tony Springett and Errol Mundle-Smith.
The home side opted to make their fifth and final change of the game, in the eighty-fifth minute, as Jacob Wright made way for Liam Gibbs.
City won a late corner, as Connor Barrett turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it, although it did lead to a pause in play, allowing José Córdoba to receive some attention from the medics. He was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Norwich added a fifth goal, as Gibbs played the ball forwards for Springett, who controlled well before slipping the ball past Roberts.
Walsall won a late corner, as Córdoba turned the ball behind, but Weir's ball in was cleared and the game was brought to its conclusion with Norwich progressing into the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, as they beat the Saddlers by five-goals-to-one.
| JURÁSEK (15') MAKAMA (24') MAKAMA (48') MAKAMA (55') SPRINGETT (90+2') |
CLARKE (67') |
| AT | CARROW ROAD |
| REFEREE | ED DUCKWORTH |