The Saddlers were looking to make it three games without defeat as they made the trip to Gander Green Lane where they were to take on bottom-of-the-table Sutton United in their twelfth outing of the 2023/24 campaign.Walsall began the game brightly, with Tom Knowles working the ball to Jamille Matt inside the area inside the opening minute, but the strikers early effort on goal sailed wide of the target.
The Saddlers continued to press, winning a corner in just the third minute, as Harry Smith turned the ball behind, however nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Ryan Stirk played the ball in for Liam Gordon, who beat his man but fired a low strike narrowly wide.
Sutton began to see more of the ball as the game continued, with Josh Coley picking out Omari Patrick with a cross in the fifth minute, but the midfielders effort from outside the area was well blocked by the Walsall defences.
The hosts went on to win a free-kick just one minute later, as Aramide Oteh fouled Aiden O'Brien just outside the box. Patrick stepped forth to take the set-piece and fired home with pinpoint accuracy to open the scoring.
Things settled a little as play continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating anything that troubled their opposition defences.
Walsall almost levelled the scores in the eleventh minute, as Knowles picked out Danny Johnson inside the area, but the strikers low effort was easily saved by Sutton shot-stopper, Dean Bouzanis.
Twelve minutes into the contest, Sutton doubled their advantage, as the Saddlers struggled to clear a long throw, with Donervon Daniels headed clearance falling kindly for Smith, who fired a powerful effort home.
The home side continued to press, with Josh Coley seeing a promising effort on goal sail narrowly over the crossbar in the fourteenth minute.
Walsall looked to respond to falling two goals behind, but Knowles' eighteenth minute effort from distance was deflected wide by a teammate, before the side won a corner a minute later, as Coley turned the ball out of play. The ball in from Gordon was good, but Johnson was unable to make contact, leaving Matt to pick up the loose ball, but his effort on goal lacked power and was easily saved by Bouzanis.
With twenty-seven minutes on the clock, things went from bad to worse for the Saddlers, as Joe Riley got on the end of a Christian N'Guessan cross and turned the ball into his own net, gifting Sutton a third.
Walsall looked to pull a goal back in the twenty-ninth minute, but Oteh effort on goal was tame and easily gathered by Bouzanis.
Ten minutes after securing their third goal of the afternoon, Sutton made it four-nil, all but putting the game to bed, as Joe Kizzi crossed the ball in for Smith, who rose well to head the ball past Walsall 'keeper, Owen Evans.
Walsall looked to pull a goal back in the thirty-ninth minute, as Matt headed the ball on for Oisin McEntee, whose shot from the centre of the box was deflected behind by Omar Sowunmi, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Sutton United leading by four-goals-to-nil.
Walsall opted to make a change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Jamille Matt sitting out the second-half, as Isaac Hutchinson took his place.
The Saddlers began the half brightly, with Knowles going close with an effort from outside the area just three minutes in, though unfortunately for the visitors the ball would not find the target as the hosts defences scrambled to clear off the line.
Unperturbed, Walsall continued to press as they looked to get themselves back into the game, with McEntee and Oteh combining to work the ball to Gordon in the forty-ninth minute, but defenders effort trickled inches wide of the upright.
Sutton won a corner in the fifty-fourth minute, as Harry Williams turned a Patrick effort wide. Kizzi rose well to meet the in-swinging ball and head home, but a foul spotted by the officials ensured the goal would not stand.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
Walsall chose to make a second change to their line-up in the sixty-third minute, with Tom Knowles making way for Douglas James-Taylor.
The hosts almost added to their score twenty minutes from time, as a cross into the box was met by Smith, but the strikers headed effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Smith continued to cause the Saddlers defences problems, with the striker picking up the ball in space before passing to O'Brien who fired an effort in on goal.
Fortunately for the Saddlers, Evans was well positioned to make the save, and the resulting corner came to nothing.
That would be Aiden O'Brien's final contribution of note, as he was replaced by Lee Angol in the seventy-fifth minute.
Walsall chose to make a double change in the seventy-seventh minute, with Danny Johnson and Donervon Daniels making way for Ross Tierney and debutant, Harvey Griffiths.
The hosts won a corner in the seventy-ninth minute, as Williams turned the ball out of play. N'Guessan swung the ball in from the flag-kick, for Smith who headed goal-wards, but Evans was alert to the danger and made the save.
With eighty-six minutes on the clock, United opted to make a double substitution, with Josh Coley and Sam Hart making way for Harry Beautyman and Ryan Jackson.
Two minutes later, the hosts chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Omari Patrick and Harry Smith departing as Dion Pereira and Hisham Kasimu took their places.
Four additional minutes were added to end the game, but there was little further action of note and the match was brought to it's conclusion with Sutton winning by four-goals-to-nil.
| PATRICK (6') SMITH (12') RILEY [OG] (27') SMITH (37') |
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| AT | GANDER GREEN LANE |
| REFEREE | ED DUCKWORTH |