Walsall returned to cup action on Tuesday evening when they welcomed League One side Leyton Orient to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for a clash in Round Two of the Carabao Cup.After knocking Bristol City out in Round One, the Saddlers were looking to make further progress in the competition and continue their unbeaten start to the new campaign.
Leyton Orient got the action underway, and saw plenty of the early ball, though they were unable to create much to trouble the Walsall defence.
With eight minutes on the clock, the visiting side won the first corner of the match, as James Furlong turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of that, but a second flag-kick followed two minutes later, as Zech Obiero's strike from outside the area was blocked out of play by Harrison Burke. The ball was played out to Demetri Mitchell, whose effort from distance was saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
Walsall grew into the game as play continued, going close in the thirteenth minute, as Tai Sodje crossed the ball to Reece Smith, whose shot on goal from outside the area was well saved by Orient 'keeper, Noah Phillips.
Sodje found space to attempt a shot at goal himself, three minutes later, as the ball was played in for him by Smith, and he looked to find the target from the centre of the area, but his strike was blocked, moments before Andy Dallas saw a strike blocked.
Ward was called into action at the other end, in the twentieth minute, as Charlie Wellens sought to find the target; the man between the sticks was not found wanting, as he got his fingertips to the the ball to turn it behind, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, as Theo Archibald fired high and wide.
Archibald conceded a corner at the other end, just three minutes later, but nothing would come of that as the visiting side cleared the danger.
Rico Browne won a free-kick in a promising position, in the twenty-eighth minute, which he crossed into the box for Sodje, whose headed effort only narrowly missed the target.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Albert Adomah playing the ball through for Dallas who was waiting inside the box, but William Forrester was well positioned to clear the danger.
Orient won the ball back, in the thirty-third minute and broke through Mitchell, who crossed into the box for Nicholas Oyekunle, but Ward was alert to the danger and made a good save to deny him.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
Four minutes from time, the hosts were able to work their way back into the Orient box, with Smith crossing the ball in for Dallas, whose strike from the centre of the area sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, during which time Walsall thought they had opened the scoring, as Burke headed home a cross into the box, but the goal was chalked off by the officials for an infringement of the offside rule, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
With eight minutes on the clock, the visiting side won the first corner of the match, as James Furlong turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of that, but a second flag-kick followed two minutes later, as Zech Obiero's strike from outside the area was blocked out of play by Harrison Burke. The ball was played out to Demetri Mitchell, whose effort from distance was saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
Walsall grew into the game as play continued, going close in the thirteenth minute, as Tai Sodje crossed the ball to Reece Smith, whose shot on goal from outside the area was well saved by Orient 'keeper, Noah Phillips.
Sodje found space to attempt a shot at goal himself, three minutes later, as the ball was played in for him by Smith, and he looked to find the target from the centre of the area, but his strike was blocked, moments before Andy Dallas saw a strike blocked.
Ward was called into action at the other end, in the twentieth minute, as Charlie Wellens sought to find the target; the man between the sticks was not found wanting, as he got his fingertips to the the ball to turn it behind, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, as Theo Archibald fired high and wide.
Archibald conceded a corner at the other end, just three minutes later, but nothing would come of that as the visiting side cleared the danger.
Rico Browne won a free-kick in a promising position, in the twenty-eighth minute, which he crossed into the box for Sodje, whose headed effort only narrowly missed the target.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Albert Adomah playing the ball through for Dallas who was waiting inside the box, but William Forrester was well positioned to clear the danger.
Orient won the ball back, in the thirty-third minute and broke through Mitchell, who crossed into the box for Nicholas Oyekunle, but Ward was alert to the danger and made a good save to deny him.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
Four minutes from time, the hosts were able to work their way back into the Orient box, with Smith crossing the ball in for Dallas, whose strike from the centre of the area sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, during which time Walsall thought they had opened the scoring, as Burke headed home a cross into the box, but the goal was chalked off by the officials for an infringement of the offside rule, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
HALF-TIME
| WALSALL | 0-0 | ORIENT |
Leyton Orient opted to make two changes to their line-up as the teams returned, with Phillip Chinedu and Alfie Gilchrist sitting out the second-half, as Isaac Hayden and Joseph Olowu joined the fray.
Walsall got the second-half action underway, and could have opened the scoring almost immediately, as the ball was played to Isaac Moore, but his effort goal-wards from outside the area ultimately flew high and wide.
Orient were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Wellens crossed the ball into the box for Mitchell, whose headed goal-wards sailed over the crossbar. The visiting side continued to press, going close again moments later, as Wellens played in Dylan Levitt, whose strike from outside the box missed the target.
In no time at all, Walsall had worked the ball back into the Orient box, where it fell to Charlie Crew, who was also unable to find the target, as he sent the ball high and wide.
Isaac Hayden became the first player to see yellow, in the forty-ninth minute, just four minutes after his introduction into the game, as he was cautioned for wasting time.
Tai Sodje joined Hayden in the referee's notebook, in the fifty-first minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Obiero.
Twelve minutes into the second-half, Walsall opted to make their first changes of the evening, with Albert Adomah and Andy Dallas making way for Courtney Clarke and Aaron Pressley.
The visiting side won a corner, in the fifty-ninth minute, as an Archibald effort was blocked behind by Crew. Before the flag-kick could be taken both sides chose to make another change to their respective line-ups, with Orient's Dylan Levitt making way for Idris El Mizouni, whilst Walsall's James Furlong was replaced by Mason Hancock, due to a knock. Nothing would come of the set-piece.
Orient continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring, as play continued, but Ward continued to impress, getting down well in the sixty-fifth to keep Wellens' low effort out, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall chose to make their final two changes of the evening, in the sixty-seventh minute, with Reece Smith and James Connolly making way for Lewis Simper and Declan Skura.
The visitors also took the opportunity to introduce more fresh legs, with Nicholas Oyekunle departing, in favour of Jaze Kabia.
Kabia was quick to get involved in the action, winning a free-kick for his side in the sixty-eighth minute, as he was fouled by Moore. Archibald crossed the ball into the box from the set-piece, for Will Forrester, whose headed effort narrowly missed the target.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Clarke crossed the ball into the box for Simper, whose effort on goal was blocked.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the seventy-third minute, allowing Will Forrester to receive some attention from the Orient medics. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Fin Stevens was introduced in his place.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle once play resumed, with both teams spending time on the ball, without creating anything of note, until the eighty-third minute, when Wellens crossed to Mitchell, but the midfielders effort from outside the area failed to test Ward as it sailed high and wide of the target.
Walsall could have taken a late lead, just two minutes after that, as Hancock played in Clarke, but Phillips was on hand to keep the ball out.
Back at the other end, moments later, the visiting side won a corner, as Burke turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Kabia's effort close range was saved by Ward.
Orient thought they had won the game, in the eighty-eighth minute, as Kabia slotted home, but the goal would not stand as he was caught offside.
Six additional minutes were added to end the game, during which time Sodje saw an effort blocked, moments before Burke blocked a Morris attempt, resulting in a corner, which came to nothing.
Isaac Moore joined those listed in the referee's notebook, five minutes into added time, as he was cautioned following a foul on El Mizouni.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still tied, forcing the sides into a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the tie.
Unfortunately it would not prove to be Walsall's night, as Leyton Orient won the shoot-out by six-goals-to-five, as Phillips saved the Saddlers first and last penalties from Simper and Skura respectively, whilst between those, Clarke, Hancock, Sodje, Pressley and Crew did convert their spot-kicks.
Walsall got the second-half action underway, and could have opened the scoring almost immediately, as the ball was played to Isaac Moore, but his effort goal-wards from outside the area ultimately flew high and wide.
Orient were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Wellens crossed the ball into the box for Mitchell, whose headed goal-wards sailed over the crossbar. The visiting side continued to press, going close again moments later, as Wellens played in Dylan Levitt, whose strike from outside the box missed the target.
In no time at all, Walsall had worked the ball back into the Orient box, where it fell to Charlie Crew, who was also unable to find the target, as he sent the ball high and wide.
Isaac Hayden became the first player to see yellow, in the forty-ninth minute, just four minutes after his introduction into the game, as he was cautioned for wasting time.
Tai Sodje joined Hayden in the referee's notebook, in the fifty-first minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Obiero.
Twelve minutes into the second-half, Walsall opted to make their first changes of the evening, with Albert Adomah and Andy Dallas making way for Courtney Clarke and Aaron Pressley.
The visiting side won a corner, in the fifty-ninth minute, as an Archibald effort was blocked behind by Crew. Before the flag-kick could be taken both sides chose to make another change to their respective line-ups, with Orient's Dylan Levitt making way for Idris El Mizouni, whilst Walsall's James Furlong was replaced by Mason Hancock, due to a knock. Nothing would come of the set-piece.
Orient continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring, as play continued, but Ward continued to impress, getting down well in the sixty-fifth to keep Wellens' low effort out, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall chose to make their final two changes of the evening, in the sixty-seventh minute, with Reece Smith and James Connolly making way for Lewis Simper and Declan Skura.
The visitors also took the opportunity to introduce more fresh legs, with Nicholas Oyekunle departing, in favour of Jaze Kabia.
Kabia was quick to get involved in the action, winning a free-kick for his side in the sixty-eighth minute, as he was fouled by Moore. Archibald crossed the ball into the box from the set-piece, for Will Forrester, whose headed effort narrowly missed the target.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Clarke crossed the ball into the box for Simper, whose effort on goal was blocked.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the seventy-third minute, allowing Will Forrester to receive some attention from the Orient medics. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Fin Stevens was introduced in his place.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle once play resumed, with both teams spending time on the ball, without creating anything of note, until the eighty-third minute, when Wellens crossed to Mitchell, but the midfielders effort from outside the area failed to test Ward as it sailed high and wide of the target.
Walsall could have taken a late lead, just two minutes after that, as Hancock played in Clarke, but Phillips was on hand to keep the ball out.
Back at the other end, moments later, the visiting side won a corner, as Burke turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Kabia's effort close range was saved by Ward.
Orient thought they had won the game, in the eighty-eighth minute, as Kabia slotted home, but the goal would not stand as he was caught offside.
Six additional minutes were added to end the game, during which time Sodje saw an effort blocked, moments before Burke blocked a Morris attempt, resulting in a corner, which came to nothing.
Isaac Moore joined those listed in the referee's notebook, five minutes into added time, as he was cautioned following a foul on El Mizouni.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still tied, forcing the sides into a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the tie.
Unfortunately it would not prove to be Walsall's night, as Leyton Orient won the shoot-out by six-goals-to-five, as Phillips saved the Saddlers first and last penalties from Simper and Skura respectively, whilst between those, Clarke, Hancock, Sodje, Pressley and Crew did convert their spot-kicks.
FULL-TIME
| WALSALL | 0-0 | ORIENT |
| 5 | PENS | 6 |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ANDREW HUMPHRIES |