Walsall returned to action on Tuesday evening as they visited the King Power Stadium and took on Leicester City in their third and final Jersey Mike's Trophy, Southern Group B outing.Leicester began the game brightly, winning the first corner of the evening just two minutes into the contest, as James Furlong turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of that.
The hosts then created two decent chances to open the scoring, in the third and fifth minutes, but on both occasions Admir Bristric was caught offside so no goal would have stood.
City continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Will Smallbone crossing the ball in for Will Alves, in the seventh minute, but the midfielders effort on goal was blocked.
Walsall began to grow into the game as play continued, and opened the scoring in the tenth minute, as Andy Dallas' initial effort struck the woodwork before his follow-up found the target.
Leicester could have levelled the scores in the thirteenth minute, as Luke Thomas crossed the ball in for Bristric, but the effort on goal sailed over the crossbar.
The home side continued to press, with Kamari Doyle setting up Bristric, in the fifteenth minute, but the strikers effort from outside the area sailed inches over.
With twenty minutes on the clock, Leicester restored parity, as Roman Dixon conceded a corner to them, from which Alves picked out John Lundstram, whose overhead effort found the top corner.
The home side looked to add a second just two minutes after their first, but Tom Watson was unable to turn Conor Chaplin's cross home, as his effort was blocked.
Things settled a little after that, with Leicester continuing to see much of the ball, without creating anything of note, until the twenty-seventh minute, when a cross into the box from Chaplin found Smallbone, whose effort on goal sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the twenty-ninth minute, allowing Ryan Leak to receive some attention from the Walsall medics, and it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, with Elicha Ahui brought on in his place.
Thirty-two minutes into the contest, Leicester took the lead as a well placed ball into the box found Smallbone, who coolly fired home, past Walsall shot-stopper, Tom Wooster.
The hosts continued to press, seeking further goals, and they went close again in thirty-fifth minute, as Smallbone looked to turn provider, crossing the ball into the box for Chaplin, whose headed effort sailed narrowly wide.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with the Foxes continuing to see much of the ball, without creating anything to trouble the Walsall defences.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Walsall won their first corner of the evening as Alves turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of it as the Leicester defences cleared.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Leicester leading by two-goals-to-one.
The hosts then created two decent chances to open the scoring, in the third and fifth minutes, but on both occasions Admir Bristric was caught offside so no goal would have stood.
City continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Will Smallbone crossing the ball in for Will Alves, in the seventh minute, but the midfielders effort on goal was blocked.
Walsall began to grow into the game as play continued, and opened the scoring in the tenth minute, as Andy Dallas' initial effort struck the woodwork before his follow-up found the target.
Leicester could have levelled the scores in the thirteenth minute, as Luke Thomas crossed the ball in for Bristric, but the effort on goal sailed over the crossbar.
The home side continued to press, with Kamari Doyle setting up Bristric, in the fifteenth minute, but the strikers effort from outside the area sailed inches over.
With twenty minutes on the clock, Leicester restored parity, as Roman Dixon conceded a corner to them, from which Alves picked out John Lundstram, whose overhead effort found the top corner.
The home side looked to add a second just two minutes after their first, but Tom Watson was unable to turn Conor Chaplin's cross home, as his effort was blocked.
Things settled a little after that, with Leicester continuing to see much of the ball, without creating anything of note, until the twenty-seventh minute, when a cross into the box from Chaplin found Smallbone, whose effort on goal sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the twenty-ninth minute, allowing Ryan Leak to receive some attention from the Walsall medics, and it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, with Elicha Ahui brought on in his place.
Thirty-two minutes into the contest, Leicester took the lead as a well placed ball into the box found Smallbone, who coolly fired home, past Walsall shot-stopper, Tom Wooster.
The hosts continued to press, seeking further goals, and they went close again in thirty-fifth minute, as Smallbone looked to turn provider, crossing the ball into the box for Chaplin, whose headed effort sailed narrowly wide.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with the Foxes continuing to see much of the ball, without creating anything to trouble the Walsall defences.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Walsall won their first corner of the evening as Alves turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of it as the Leicester defences cleared.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Leicester leading by two-goals-to-one.
HALF-TIME
| LEICESTER | 2-1 | WALSALL |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and play got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a free-kick just outside the area, one minute after the restart, but Connolly was unable to direct his header on target, as he got on the end of Furlong's ball in.
Things settled after that, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball without creating anything of note.
Olabade Aluko became the first player to see yellow, in the fifty-sixth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Tai Sodje.
As we reached the hour mark, Leicester had a chance to increase their lead, as Chaplin crossed the ball into the box for Watson, but the Walsall defences stood firm and the effort was blocked.
With sixty-two minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make a double change to their line-up, with Ryan Sjoerdsma and Roman Dixon making way for Charlie Crew and Lewis Simper.
Leicester continued to look the brighter of the two sides, going close again in the sixty-third minute, as the ball fell to Doyle inside the box, but he was unable to control his effort, sending the ball sailing over from close range.
Walsall chose to make their final two changes of the evening, in the sixty-ninth minute, with Andy Dallas and James Furlong making way for Reece Smith and Aaron Pressley.
City also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, as Conor Chaplin and Will Smallbone were replaced by Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Sammy Braybrooke.
Things remained settled as play continued, with neither side able to create anything of note that would trouble their opposition defences.
With seventy-seven minutes on the clock, Leicester chose to make another change to their line-up, with Tom Watson making way for Woyo Coulibaly.
Walsall looked to get back on level terms as play continued, but were never able to create a chance which might actually achieve that aim.
At the other end, the hosts won a corner, in the eighty-sixth minute, as Wooster pulled off a fine save to deny De Cordova-Reid from close range, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Leicester chose to make their final change of the game, in the eighty-ninth minute, as Kamari Doyle was replaced by Tommy Neale.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Leicester winning by two-goals-to-one, with City advancing in the competition, as Walsall bowed out.
Things settled after that, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball without creating anything of note.
Olabade Aluko became the first player to see yellow, in the fifty-sixth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Tai Sodje.
As we reached the hour mark, Leicester had a chance to increase their lead, as Chaplin crossed the ball into the box for Watson, but the Walsall defences stood firm and the effort was blocked.
With sixty-two minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make a double change to their line-up, with Ryan Sjoerdsma and Roman Dixon making way for Charlie Crew and Lewis Simper.
Leicester continued to look the brighter of the two sides, going close again in the sixty-third minute, as the ball fell to Doyle inside the box, but he was unable to control his effort, sending the ball sailing over from close range.
Walsall chose to make their final two changes of the evening, in the sixty-ninth minute, with Andy Dallas and James Furlong making way for Reece Smith and Aaron Pressley.
City also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, as Conor Chaplin and Will Smallbone were replaced by Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Sammy Braybrooke.
Things remained settled as play continued, with neither side able to create anything of note that would trouble their opposition defences.
With seventy-seven minutes on the clock, Leicester chose to make another change to their line-up, with Tom Watson making way for Woyo Coulibaly.
Walsall looked to get back on level terms as play continued, but were never able to create a chance which might actually achieve that aim.
At the other end, the hosts won a corner, in the eighty-sixth minute, as Wooster pulled off a fine save to deny De Cordova-Reid from close range, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Leicester chose to make their final change of the game, in the eighty-ninth minute, as Kamari Doyle was replaced by Tommy Neale.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Leicester winning by two-goals-to-one, with City advancing in the competition, as Walsall bowed out.
FULL-TIME
| LEICESTER | 2-1 | WALSALL |
LUNDSTRAM (20') SMALLBONE (32') |
DALLAS (10')
|
| AT | KING POWER STADIUM |
| REFEREE | MICHAEL BARLOW |
