Walsall were back in action on Tuesday evening as they played host to Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s in their first EFL Trophy - Southern Group A outing of the season.
The visitors went into the lead via Andrew Moran put the bell beyond Jackson Smith and into the back of the net with thirteen minutes played.
However, the Saddlers got themselves back on level terms a few minutes before the thirty-minute mark as Oisin McEntee unleashed a powerful header from Ronan Maher's cross.
Moran went on to grab his and Brighton's second just three minutes after the Saddlers' leveller as he looked to guide his side to a winning start.
The visitors' third goal arrived via Liam Gordon as the defender, who had only taken to the field five minutes earlier, put the ball into the back of his own net.
Walsall grabbed a goal back with four minutes of normal time remaining as Tom Knowles marked his return to action with a powerful dive that left the 'keeper with no chance.
EFL Trophy - Southern Group A
| WALSALL | 2-3 | BRIGHTON U21s |
| McENTEE (27') KNOWLES (86') |
GOALSCORERS |
MORAN (13') MORAN (33') GORDON [OG] (65') |
| MAHER (27') JAMES-TAYLOR (86') |
ASSISTS |
O'MAHONEY (33') |
| 42 | POSS (%) | 58 |
| 19 | SHOTS (TOTAL) | 4 |
| 4 | SHOTS (ON TARGET) | 4 |
| 3 | CORNERS | 3 |
| 12 | FOULS | 5 |
| 2 | YELLOW CARDS | 2 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| ATTENDANCE | 1, 780 (71 AWAY) |
| REFEREE | THOMAS PARSONS |
WALSALL
Smith; Foulkes (Knowles, (66' 🟨), McEntee, Williams, Allen 🟨, Riley, Tierney, Maher (Thomas, 80'), James-Taylor, Draper (Gordon, 60'), Oteh (Matt, 66')
Unused: Evans; Daniels, Hutchinson
BRIGHTON U21s
McGill 🟨; Nilsson, McConville 🟨, Kavanagh, Samuels, Peupion (Duffus, 78'), Hinchy (Baker-Boaitey, 90+2'), Hinshelwood, Barrington (Mullins, 78'), O'Mahony, Moran (Chouchane, 90+2')
Unused: Cahill, Jackson, Slater