Following Saturday afternoon's victory over local rivals Shrewsbury Town, new Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton shares his Match Report;It was far less comfortable than the 3-0 FA Cup victory in November, as the Saddlers spurned a hatful of decent chances on their way to the win.
There were a few early scares for Walsall, firstly when Richard O’Donnell spilled a cross which was hastily cleared.
The Walsall ‘keeper then saved from Gozie Ugwu when the forward was put through on goal. It was a let off for the defence and they were convinced Ugwu should have been flagged offside.
The Blues sprung the offside trap for a second time and it was Ugwu again who struck his effort from the right side of the box into the side-netting.
Craig Westcarr then latched onto a long ball that swirled in the wind and bamboozled the home defence, but his half volley was stopped by Weale.
Andy Taylor later floated a free kick into the area and the inviting ball was headed over the bar by captain Andy Butler.
For the hosts Tom Eaves tried from 25 yards with a tame shot that was easily gathered by O’Donnell.
The Saddlers started to take control and but for a few marginal offside decisions they could have been in on goal.
Then came some great interplay from the Walsall strikers, as Romaine Sawyers dummied for Westcarr and he flicked back into the path of his strike partner. Sawyers completed the move by blasting at goal, forcing a good reaction save from the Shrewsbury goalkeeper.
Westcarr's was the catalyst again as his cross from the left was perfect for James Baxendale, but he was on his heels and couldn't take the opportunity to poke home.
Taylor's tried a curling free kick which curled just wide of the post following a silly foul by Eaves on Baxendale.
It was all Walsall for most of the first-half and they weren't afraid to play Route One football which was probably best in the windy conditions. However, once again Dean Smith's side had nothing to show for their efforts.
The dominance continued in the second-half. Sawyers had his shot blocked from eight yards and Westcarr's follow up was smartly saved by Weale.
Then Walsall finally made their pressure tell. Sawyers threaded the ball through to Lalkovic and the on-loan Chelsea man had the composure to round the goalkeeper and slot home.
It was nearly all for nothing though as a ball looped to the far post which Shrewsbury sub Taylor headed down to Eaves. He was three yards out but somehow the Bolton loanee fired over the crossbar.
Chances were rare for Graham Taylor's men and Walsall were still on top but could have done with a second goal to kill the game.
This became even clearer when Butler nearly scored an own-goal from a Shrewsbury corner and Sam Mantom had to make a heroic goal-line clearance from his captain's back-header.
Mantom then came close to netting at the other end from a crossed free kick and his shot was parried away by the goalkeeper.
Westcarr could have put the game beyond all doubt in the fourth minute of stoppage time and instead he dragged the chance wide.
It became nervy in the later stages of the game, but the Saddlers were able to wind down the clock and claim their first win since the televised triumph over Peterborough last month.
F/T: Shrewsbury Town 0 Walsall 1 (Lalkovic 54')
ATT: 6,015
REF: David Phillips, West Sussex.