Walsall were back in Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Newport County to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a free-kick just two minutes into the contest, as Albert Adomah was fouled by Sven Sprangler, who also became the first player to see yellow as he was booked for the infraction, although nothing would come of the set-piece.
Newport grew into the game as play continued, creating the first chance of the afternoon, in the sixth minute, as Bobby Kamwa crossed the ball to James Crole, whose strike goal-wards from outside the box was diverted behind by Harrison Burke, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The Saddlers soon had the ball back at the other end, winning a corner as a Charlie Lakin effort was turned behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as the ball in found Kacper Łopata whose shot was easily held by County 'keeper, Jordan Wright.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying some decent spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences, although Aaron Loupalo-Bi did capitalise on a mistake in the County defences, in the twenty-second minute, to play Daniel Kanu in, but the strikers effort sailed narrowly wide of the target.
County created a chance to take the lead, in the twenty-seventh minute, as Kamwa crossed towards the back post, finding the head of Ben Lloyd, but he was unable to direct his effort on target.
Walsall probably should have broken the deadlock, as we reached the half hour mark, as Pattison drove into space and crossed the ball in for Adomah, but the strikers low effort hit the post.
Alfie Chang became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Crole in the thirtieth minute.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle again as play continued, until, thirty-eight minutes in, when Newport opened the scoring, as Crole played the ball into the box, towards the back post, for Harrison Biggins who was waiting to turn it home from close range.
The visiting side continued to press, going close again in the fortieth minute, as Crole again played the ball in for Biggins, but Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was alert to the danger and turned the ball wide. The resulting corner saw Biggins look to turn provider, as he crossed the ball in for Crole, but the strikers headed effort missed the target.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Newport leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the match got back underway. Newport saw a great chance to double their lead go begging, six minutes after the restart, as a free-kick was floated into the box by Tom Davies, whose header goal-wards headed narrowly wide of the upright.
Walsall chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the fifty-fifth minute, as Kacper Łopata was replaced by Aden Flint.
An argument in the fifty-eighth minute saw Mason Hancock, Ben Lloyd and Cameron Evans all have their names added to the referee's notebook as they were cautioned for dissent.
Newport enjoyed a bright spell after that, with Crole seeing an effort from outside the area sail over the crossbar in the fifty-ninth minute, moments before the striker crossed the ball in for Biggins, whose strike was turned behind, with the resulting corner falling to Davies, whose effort also sailed over.
With sixty-two minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores, Hancock delivered a low cross to Loupalo-Bi, who knocked it on for Pattison, who played it on to Kanu, whose driven effort goal-wards found the top corner.
The Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the sixty-third minute, with Alfie Chang and Aaron Loupalo-Bi making way for Jamie Jellis and Aaron Pressley.
Three minutes later, Newport opted to make their substitution of the game, with Ben Lloyd departing as Joe Thomas joined the fray.
Walsall continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the sixty-ninth minute, as Ryan Delaney turned the ball behind. The ball in from Lakin found the head of Flint at the back post, but the midfielder was unable to find the target as his shot sailed narrowly wide.
The hosts continued to see much of the ball as play continued, with Flint seeing another chance to put his side ahead go begging, in the seventy-fourth minute, as he saw a shot from the centre of the box blocked.
Charlie Lakin joined those playing on a caution, in the seventy-sixth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Sprangler.
At that time, the visiting side chose to make two further changes to their line-up, as Cameron Evans and Bobby Kamwa were replaced by Matt Smith and Nathaniel Opoku.
Moments after the change was completed, Walsall could have taken the lead, as Pattison raced through the centre of the County defences before firing an effort in on goal, but his initial effort was blocked before a follow-up strike was saved by Wright.
There was a brief pause in proceedings, in the seventy-eighth minute, allowing Wright to receive some attention from the Newport medics, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
The Walsall bench opted to make their final change of the game, in the eighty-second minute, as Albert Adomah made way for Jid Okeke.
The Newport bench followed suit three minutes later, with James Crole and Liam Shephard departing, as Courtney Baker-Richardson and Anthony Driscoll-Glennon were introduced for the final five minutes.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, and seven minutes into them, Walsall took the lead, as Pattison fired home with a low drive from twenty-five yards out.
Alex Pattison then saw his name added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned for excessive celebration of the goal.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall taking all three points, as they came from behind to win by two-goals-to-one.
| KANU (62') PATTISON (90+7') |
BIGGINS (38') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ROSS JOYCE |