Walsall welcomed UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on Tuesday evening for a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2026/27 campaignWalsall began the game brightly, seeing a chance fall to Aaron Pressley in just the fourth minute, after some good work from Albert Adomah to work the ball in, but the strikers headed effort looped harmlessly over the bar.
The hosts continued to see plenty of the ball, creating another chance on goal just three minutes later, as the was picked up by Mason Hancock, who was a little unlucky to see his low effort from distance deflect wide of the near post.
Aston Villa grew into the game as it continued, and could have opened the scoring themselves in the thirteenth minute, as Ross Barkley played in George Hemmings, whose curling effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, winning a corner, which Villa shot-stopper, Ian Maatsen was on hand to clear, before the visitors raced up to the other end, in a move which culminated in Leon Bailey firing an effort over the crossbar.
With twenty-four minutes on the clock, Villa took the lead, as Kosta Nedeljkovic crossed the ball towards the back post, where it was met by an onrushing Brian Madjo, who fired home.
Things settled a little after the goal, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to prepare their opposition defences for the test of the league campaigns to come.
Six minutes before the break, after a quiet spell, the visiting side almost doubled their lead as Ian Maatsen fired goal-wards from distance, almost finding the far corner, though his effort ultimately sailed narrowly wide of the post.
Three minutes later, the Villans did extend their lead, as Emi Buendia and Bailey combined to tee up Hemmings, who took a touch before slotting the ball past Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
Moments before the break, Villa added a third goal to their tally for the evening, as Buendia fired goal-wards, with his effort blocked, allowing Madjo to turn a rebound strike home.
That would prove to be the final action of note for the first-half, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Aston Villa leading by three-goals-to-nil.
The hosts continued to see plenty of the ball, creating another chance on goal just three minutes later, as the was picked up by Mason Hancock, who was a little unlucky to see his low effort from distance deflect wide of the near post.
Aston Villa grew into the game as it continued, and could have opened the scoring themselves in the thirteenth minute, as Ross Barkley played in George Hemmings, whose curling effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, winning a corner, which Villa shot-stopper, Ian Maatsen was on hand to clear, before the visitors raced up to the other end, in a move which culminated in Leon Bailey firing an effort over the crossbar.
With twenty-four minutes on the clock, Villa took the lead, as Kosta Nedeljkovic crossed the ball towards the back post, where it was met by an onrushing Brian Madjo, who fired home.
Things settled a little after the goal, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to prepare their opposition defences for the test of the league campaigns to come.
Six minutes before the break, after a quiet spell, the visiting side almost doubled their lead as Ian Maatsen fired goal-wards from distance, almost finding the far corner, though his effort ultimately sailed narrowly wide of the post.
Three minutes later, the Villans did extend their lead, as Emi Buendia and Bailey combined to tee up Hemmings, who took a touch before slotting the ball past Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
Moments before the break, Villa added a third goal to their tally for the evening, as Buendia fired goal-wards, with his effort blocked, allowing Madjo to turn a rebound strike home.
That would prove to be the final action of note for the first-half, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Aston Villa leading by three-goals-to-nil.
Aston Villa opted to make ten changes to their line-up ahead of the second forty-five, with only Modou Cissé keeping his place, as Joe Gauci, Ian Maatsen, Kosta Nedeljkovic, TJ Carroll, George Hemmings, Lamare Bogarde, Ross Barkley, Brian Madjo, Emiliano Buendía and Leon Bailey watched the second-half from the sidelines, as their places were filled by James Wright, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Triston Rowe, João Gomes, Aidan Borland, Luka Lynch, Ben Broggio, Alysson Edward and Bradley Burrowes.
The first nine minutes after the break were a relatively quiet affair, before Walsall chose to make their first substitution of the evening, with Albert Adomah making way for Lewis Simper.
Things remained settled, with both teams seeing spells with the ball, without creating anything of note.
Shortly after we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Ryan Leak and Andrew Dallas making way for Harrison Burke and Tai Sodje.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Villa opted to replace their last remaining starter, as Modou Cissé departed in favour of Samuel Iling-Junior.
Two minutes after the change was completed, Villa added to their tally, with Lynch finding the target, with the help of a huge deflection which wrong-footed Ward.
The Villans added a fifth goal just three minutes later, as Lynch crossed the ball in for Borland, who curled a left-footed effort in at the far post.
The first nine minutes after the break were a relatively quiet affair, before Walsall chose to make their first substitution of the evening, with Albert Adomah making way for Lewis Simper.
Things remained settled, with both teams seeing spells with the ball, without creating anything of note.
Shortly after we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Ryan Leak and Andrew Dallas making way for Harrison Burke and Tai Sodje.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Villa opted to replace their last remaining starter, as Modou Cissé departed in favour of Samuel Iling-Junior.
Two minutes after the change was completed, Villa added to their tally, with Lynch finding the target, with the help of a huge deflection which wrong-footed Ward.
The Villans added a fifth goal just three minutes later, as Lynch crossed the ball in for Borland, who curled a left-footed effort in at the far post.
Walsall opted to make a raft of changes following Villa's fifth goal of the evening, with Alex Pattison, Isaac Moore, Mason Hancock and Rico Browne all departing, as their places were filled by Archie Bunn, Courtney Clarke, Elicha Ahui and Vincent Harper.
The hosts were presented with a chance on goal, fifteen minutes from time, winning a corner, which Clarke crossed in towards the near post for Sodje, but the striker was unable to find the target.
With eighty-two minutes on the clock, the visiting side opted to make one final change for the evening, with Ben Broggio making way for Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba for the final eight minutes or so of the contest.
Walsall also took the opportunity to give more of their squad a run out, with Aaron Pressley, Declan Skura and Sven Sprangler departing, as Ellis Harris, Ryan Sjordesma and Will Etheridge took to the field.
There was little further action of note, and the match was brought to its conclusion with Aston Villa winning by five-goals-to-nil.
The hosts were presented with a chance on goal, fifteen minutes from time, winning a corner, which Clarke crossed in towards the near post for Sodje, but the striker was unable to find the target.
With eighty-two minutes on the clock, the visiting side opted to make one final change for the evening, with Ben Broggio making way for Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba for the final eight minutes or so of the contest.
Walsall also took the opportunity to give more of their squad a run out, with Aaron Pressley, Declan Skura and Sven Sprangler departing, as Ellis Harris, Ryan Sjordesma and Will Etheridge took to the field.
There was little further action of note, and the match was brought to its conclusion with Aston Villa winning by five-goals-to-nil.
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MADJO (24') HEMMINGS (43') MADJO (45') LYNCH (68') BORLAND (70') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |