Earlier this afternoon Walsall Football Club played host to Doncaster Rovers, in the latest Sky Bet League One fixture of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
The game seemed an important one with the steamroller that is Bristol City on the horizon, and a bright start for the Saddlers saw Anthony Forde have two shots blocked in quick succession within the first minute.
A ball was then driven in with pace towards Tom Bradshaw but he was off balance and scuffed the snapshot.
There wasn't much goalmouth action for the rest of the half, with the sides trading spells of possession but not chances.
Paul Downing nodded well off target from a free kick, and Doncaster's Theo Robinson also had a headed chance. The Jamaican striker put over after a rare period of Donny pressure.
Rovers are suffering somewhat of a hangover following last season's final-day relegation from the Championship. Paul Dickov's men certainly looked a shadow of the side that went up two years ago.
And they were dealt a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time when Walsall took the lead.
It was a move straight from the training ground. Andy Taylor sold the defence a dummy, electing to play in Sawyers on the left from his free kick. He in turn spotted the pullback to James Baxendale who took a touch before rifling a shot past substitute keeper Marko Marosi.
On-loan Villa stopper Jed Steer had been forced off through injury after half an hour, but it made no matter - no goalkeeper would have have stopped the rocket that flew into the top right corner.
H/T: Walsall 1 Doncaster Rovers 0
Just a few minutes of the second half had passed when Tom Bradshaw had huge penalty appeals turned away.The game seemed an important one with the steamroller that is Bristol City on the horizon, and a bright start for the Saddlers saw Anthony Forde have two shots blocked in quick succession within the first minute.
A ball was then driven in with pace towards Tom Bradshaw but he was off balance and scuffed the snapshot.
There wasn't much goalmouth action for the rest of the half, with the sides trading spells of possession but not chances.
Paul Downing nodded well off target from a free kick, and Doncaster's Theo Robinson also had a headed chance. The Jamaican striker put over after a rare period of Donny pressure.
Rovers are suffering somewhat of a hangover following last season's final-day relegation from the Championship. Paul Dickov's men certainly looked a shadow of the side that went up two years ago.
And they were dealt a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time when Walsall took the lead.
It was a move straight from the training ground. Andy Taylor sold the defence a dummy, electing to play in Sawyers on the left from his free kick. He in turn spotted the pullback to James Baxendale who took a touch before rifling a shot past substitute keeper Marko Marosi.
On-loan Villa stopper Jed Steer had been forced off through injury after half an hour, but it made no matter - no goalkeeper would have have stopped the rocket that flew into the top right corner.
H/T: Walsall 1 Doncaster Rovers 0
He nipped in ahead of the defender ad got a touch on the ball before going to ground. The referee though, who was so whistle-happy earlier on in the game, said no this time.
Bradshaw, who was using this as his motivation, then somehow got free of his marker before blasting his effort high and wild.
But after running hard all afternoon, Bradshaw's perseverance was finally rewarded on 57 minutes. He surged into the area and slid in to poke Sawyers excellent cross past Marosi, making it five goals in eight league games.
Things got even better only seven minutes later when Walsall made it 3-0. Bradshaw was brought down outside the box and Forde curled the free kick to the left of the wall and in off the base of the post.
The last 20 minutes were ones for the Saddlers fans to enjoy, with Ole's ringing out as Dean Smith's side kept hold of the ball.
They weren't done in front of goal though and sub Mathieu Manset headed over from 12 yards following Taylor's teasing cross.
Smith also gave Ashley Grimes a run out once the game was safe, and he slammed a volley into the advancing defender from James O'Connor's pullback.
Grimes and Manset clearly wanted to make an impression in their 10 minute cameos. Neither played badly but it will be hard to budge any of the starting eleven for next Saturday, and the big test of the Robins.
F/T WALSALL 3 DONCASTER ROVERS 0
By: Scott Brotherton.
RESULT WALSALL 3 DONCASTER ROVERS 0
GOALS: Baxendale 45+2', Bradshaw 57', Forde 64'
AT: Banks's Stadium, Walsall.
ATTENDANCE: 3,741 (479 Doncaster).
REFEREE: Mr. Scott Mathieson, Cheshire.
WALSALL O'Donnell; O'Connor , Butler, Downing, Taylor; A.Chambers, Flanagan (Clifford 55'); Baxendale, Sawyers (Grimes 83'), Forde; Bradshaw (Manset 83')
Subs not used: MacGillivray; Benning, J.Chambers, Cook
DONCASTER ROVERS Steer (Marosi 30'), Evina , Furman , McCombe, Robinson, Forrester, McCullough, Keegan (Peterson 66'), Wabara, Bennett (Wellens 55'), Coppinger
