The Saddlers played host to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening as, after knocking Swindon Town out in the First Round, they looked to secure a place in the Third Round of this season's Carabao Cup competition.
The match got off to a rather slow start, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
The first action of note came in the eleventh minute, when Charlton Athletic won the first corner of the game, as Jack Earing turned the ball out of play, however, the Walsall defences stood firm and nothing came of the flag-kick.
Charlton were presented with another chance to open the scoring two minutes later, as the ball fell to Diallang Jaiyesimi, but the strikers' effort from outside the area sailed wide.
Walsall had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where, fifteen minutes into the contest, Andy Williams fired the first real Saddlers effort of the game goal-wards, but Charlton shot-stopper, Joe Wollacott was alert to the danger and got down well to make the save.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with Tom Knowles playing in Isaac Hutchinson in the seventeenth minute, but the midfielders' effort from the edge of the area sailed wide.
Hutchinson was again presented with a chance to score in the twenty-first minute, as he collected the ball just outside the area and spotted an opening, but Wollacott was well positioned to make the save, before gathering ahead of an onrushing Williams.
Walsall went on to win a corner in the twenty-fourth minute, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as Taylor Allen fired wide.
The home side continued to press and were a little unlucky not to take the lead as we reached the half-hour mark, as Manny Monthe saw an effort deflected wide by Miles Leaburn, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Charlton went close themselves in the thirty-sixth minute, as the ball was played onto the head of Jaiyesimi inside the area, but the striker nodded wide.
Walsall were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where Williams fired an effort over the crossbar, shortly before Knowles sent one wide.
Albie Morgan went close for Charlton as the board was raised to indicate one additional minute would be played.
Andy Williams became the first player to see yellow during the added minute, as the hosts thought they had taken the lead, only for the referee to rule the goal out for a handball incident, and caution the would-be scorer.
That was the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
HALF-TIME SCORE
| WALSALL | 0-0 | CHARLTON ATHLETIC |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action resumed. Charlton had a chance to open the scoring moments ater the re-start, but Jake Forster-Caskey's effort from outside the area sailed wide of the upright.
Walsall soon had the ball at the other end; Liam Bennett crossing the ball onto the head of Donervon Daniels, but the Walsall captain nodded wide.
Charlton won a corner in the fifty-second minute as Daniels turned a Jaiyesimi effort wide, but nothing would come of the set-piece, as Morgan skied his effort.
With fifty-three minutes on the clock, Manny Monthe became the second player to see yellow, as he received a caution for a foul on Leaburn. The resulting free-kick was played direct by Forster-Caskey, but his effort sailed over the crossbar, without worrying Owen Evans in the Walsall goal.
Ten minutes into the half, Tom Knowles joined those already playing on a caution, being shown the yellow card for a foul on Richard Chin.
With fifty-seven minutes on the clock, Charlton took the lead, as Leaburn played Jaiyesimi through on goal, with the striker firing the ball into the bottom corner.
The visiting side went close again four minutes later, as Chin found himself in shooting range, but Evans was alert to the danger and did well to push his powerful effort clear, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Charlton opted to make their first changes of the evening in the sixty-second minute, with Eoghan O'Connell and Albie Morgan making way for Ryan Inniss and Charlie Kirk.
Three minutes later, Walsall followed suit, making two changes themselves, as Andy Williams and Ronan Maher were replaced by Danny Johnson and Liam Kinsella.
Walsall set about looking to restore parity after the changes were completed, with Johnson seeing an effort blocked just two minutes after his introduction into the game, before Monthe played Allen in from a flag-kick moments later, but the defenders effort on goal sailed wide of the upright.
With seventy-four minutes on the clock, Walsall manager, Michael Flynn opted to make two further changes to his team, with Isaac Hutchinson and Timmy Abraham making way for Hayden White and Flynn Clarke.
The hosts continued to press as they sought to get back onto level terms, with Daniels playing in Monthe, but the defenders effort from outside the box sailed wide of the target.
With seventy-eight minutes on the clock, Jake Forster-Caskey became the first Charlton player to see yellow, as he was cautioned by the referee for a foul on Knowles.
Charlton made two further changes to their team in the eighty-first minute, with Richard Chin and Diallang Jaiyesimi making way for Sean Clare and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Five minutes from time, both sides made use of their final available substitutions; Walsall replacing Jack Earing with Douglas James-Taylor, whilst Charlton opted to introduce former Saddler, George Dobson into the game in place of Aaron Henry.
In the eighty-seventh minute, Hayden White received a caution for a foul on Dobson.
Seven additional minutes were added to end the game. Two minutes into those seven, Charlie Kirk became the sixth player to receive a caution, as the yellow card was brandished in his direction for time wasting.
Charlton thought they had put the game to bed three minutes into added time, as Rak-Sakyi met a low cross from Jack Payne and turned it goal-wards, but Evans remained alert in the Walsall goal and got a let in the way of the shot to deny him, with Forster-Caskey unable to turn the rebound home.
The hosts soon had the ball back in the Charlton half, with Knowles seeing an effort sail wide in the ninety-fifth minute.
That would be the final action of note, and the game was brought to it's conclusion with Charlton Athletic winning by one-goal-to-nil, as the Saddlers crashed out of the Carabao Cup.
FULL-TIME SCORE
| WALSALL | 0-1 | CHARLTON ATHLETIC |
| JAIYESIMI (57') | |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| ATTENDANCE | 2,954 (367) |
| REFEREE | OLLIE YATES |