Walsall returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to Stadium MK in Buckinghamshire and took on NK Dons, with the Saddlers looking to continue their strong start to the new campaign.Walsall got the match underway, but the first ten or so minutes were pretty uneventful, with both sides spending time on the ball without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
Evan Weir became the first player to draw the attention of referee James Oldham, as he was cautioned, just thirteen minutes into the contest, following a foul on Aaron Nemane.
The game continued much as it had started, with the Dons seeing much of the ball, but neither side being able to create much of note as they continued to cancel each other out, though sixteen minutes in, Joseph Tomlinson did see a cross deflected goal-wards, but straight into the waiting arms of Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby.
With eighteen minutes on the clock, the hosts found the breakthrough, as the ball was played down the right for Liam Kelly, who crossed to Callum Hendry who fired home from close range.
Walsall created their first real chance of the afternoon in the twenty-third minute, as a cross across the box from Jamie Jellis found Jack Earing, but the midfielders strike was well saved by MK Dons 'keeper, Tom McGill.
The hosts were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, with Alex Gilbey trying his luck from distance, but Hornby was on hand to gather.
The Dons felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the twenty-ninth minute, as Tomlinson raced into the box only to be felled by David Okagbue, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
Walsall conceded a corner in the thirty-fifth minute, as Hornby was forced to turn behind a dangerous low ball in from Nemane; the visiting side dealt well with the flag-kick though, with the hosts unable to get the ball into the box.
The hosts went close again though, moments later, as Hendry played Nemane through, but he ultimately sent the ball wide.
MK Dons continued to press, winning another corner in the fortieth minute, as a Tomlinson effort was turned wide, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
One additional minute was added to end the first forty-five, but there was little further action of note and the whistle sounded to announce half-time with MK Dons leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
Walsall opted to make two changes as the sides returned, with Evan Weir and George Hall sitting out the second-half, as Charlie Lakin and Reyes Cleary took their places.
The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just three minutes after the restart, as Nemane turned the ball out of play. Nothing would ultimately come of the flag-kick, as a free-kick was awarded to the hosts before the visitors could work the ball into shooting position.
The Dons won a free-kick in a dangerous spot in the fifty-first minute, as Connor Barrett was penalised for a foul on Gilbey. Fortunately for the Saddlers, nothing would come of the chance as the ball eventually fell to Liam Kelly who floated a cross in towards the back post, where Laurence Maguire was stood unmarked, but he was unable to find the target with his headed effort.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fourth minute, allowing Maguire to receive attention from the Dons medical team, but he was able to rejoin the action after a spell of treatment.
Walsall could have levelled the scores in the fifty-eighth minute, as an Okagbue cross into the box found Earing, but leaning back, the midfielder skied his effort.
There was another pause in the action after that, as the Dons medical team were called upon again, with Aaron Nemane requiring attention this time. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Stephen Wearne was sent on in his place.
Jamie Jellis became second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Tomlinson, in the sixty-third minute.
The hosts chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the sixty-fifth minute, with Laurence Maguire and Tommy Leigh making way for Jack Tucker and Kane Thompson-Sommers.
Callum Hendry joined those playing on a yellow card, in the sixty-eighth minute, as he was cautioned for time-wasting.
Walsall chose to make another double substitution, in the seventy-second minute, with Connor Barrett and Nathan Lowe being replaced by Albert Adomah and Jamille Matt.
The hosts almost doubled their advantage fifteen minutes from time, as Tomlinson found space to shoot and fired a powerful effort in on goal, but Hornby was alert to the danger and made the clearance, before the visiting side broke with the ball, with Matt unlucky not to score at the other end moments later.
Both sides chose to make further changes in the eighty-second minute, with Liam Kelly and Callum Hendry making way for Jordan Williams and Matthew Dennis, whilst Jamie Jellis departed for the Saddlers, with the returning Danny Johnson taking his place.
Walsall set out to find a late equaliser, with the ball eventually falling to Earing on the edge of the area, but McGill was alert to his strike and made the save to deny him.
At the other end, the hosts could have effectively put the game to bed two minutes from time, as Gilbey fired a powerful strike in from outside the area, but Hornby got down well to gather.
Eight additional minutes were added to end the match, but try as they might, the Saddlers were unable to create any further chances of note, and the referee brought the game to it's conclusion with MK Dons winning by one-goal-to-nil. Disappointing from the travelling side, who really struggled to take their chances, few and far between as they were at times.
| HENDRY (18') | |
| AT | STADIUM MK |
| REFEREE | JAMES OLDHAM |