The table-topping Saddlers returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they took on Milton Keynes Dons at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.Walsall began the game brightly, winning the first corner of the afternoon just four minutes into the contest, as MK Dons 'keeper, Tom McGill, turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the set-piece as Ryan Stirk's effort on goal was gathered.
The home side continued to enjoy a good spell of play, with Albert Adomah crossing the ball in for Oisin McEntee at the near post, in the seventh minute, but the midfielders effort from a tight angle sailed wide of the target.
The visiting side won a corner at the other end, in the eleventh minute, as Harry Williams turned Aaron Nemane's cross into the box out of play, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as Walsall won back possession and cleared the danger.
Just three minutes later, MK Dons opened the scoring, as Nemane played the ball over the top for Scott Hogan, who took a touch and fired past Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin.
The Dons looked to extend their lead in the eighteenth minute, as Liam Kelly crossed the ball to Joe Tomlinson, but Simkin had little trouble denying him.
Walsall won a corner in the twenty-second minute, as a lot ball into the area from McEntee was turned behind by Sam Sherring. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as Jamie Jellis saw a headed effort saved.
Jay Williams became the first player to see yellow, moments later, as he was cautioned following a foul on Taylor Allen.
Albert Adomah joined Williams in the referee's notebook, in the twenty-sixth minute, as the striker was shown the yellow card for a foul on Kelly.
Just one minute after Adomah's booking, Connor Barrett saw his name added to the book, as he was cautioned following a foul on Dan Crowley.
With thirty-two minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores after MK Dons conceded a corner to them; Allen swung into the box but McGill failed to gather and David Okagbue bundled home.
Things settled a little after the goal, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences, although, Allen did see an effort sail wide in the forty-fourth minute.
Moments later, at the other end, Tomlinson crossed the ball to Kelly, whose strike from outside the box sailed over.
One additional minute was 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 the scores tied at one-goal-apiece.
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and the action resumed. Walsall began the second-half brightly, taking the lead less than thirty seconds after the restart, as a Barrett cross was flicked on by Adomah for Liam Gordon, who coolly fired past McGill.
Gordon looked to turn provider, just three minutes later, as he crossed the ball to Stirk, whose strike from outside the box was saved by the Dons 'keeper.
David Okagbue picked up the first yellow card of the second-half, in the forty-ninth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Tomlinson.
The hosts won a corner in the fifty-third minute, as Nico Lawrence turned the ball out of play. Allen swung the ball in from the flag-kick and it eventually found Jellis, who fired goal-wards forcing McGill into another save.
Jamie Jellis became the fourth Saddler to see yellow, as he was cautioned after kicking the ball away, in the fifty-eighth minute.
The visiting side opted to make their first substitution of the afternoon, in the fifty-ninth minute, as Jay Williams was replaced by Kane Thompson-Sommers.
Things settled a little as the game continued, but sixty-six minutes into the contest, Walsall added a third, as a long throw from Harry Williams was collected by Stirk who played the ball back into the path of the defender, who found the target with a strike towards the bottom corner.
The Dons responded to the goal by making their second change of the afternoon, in the sixty-eighth minute, with Liam Kelly making way for Joe White.
Walsall went close to adding a fourth to their tally, seventy-three minutes into the contest, as Gordon picked up the ball just inside the Walsall half, and launched a run upfield, drawing a save from McGill before his follow-up effort sailed wide.
The Saddlers chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the seventy-fourth minute, with Oisin McEntee making way for Charlie Lakin. The Dons also took the opportunity to make further changes to their line-up, with Scott Hogan and Joe Tomlinson departing in favour of Callum Hendry and Ellis Harrison.
Another Walsall change followed, just five minutes later, as Jamille Matt was replaced by Josh Gordon.
Luke Offord joined those playing on a caution, ten minutes from time, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul.
Walsall put the game to bed, in the eighty-first minute, as Jellis picked up a loose ball and played Adomah through, with the striker beating the Dons 'keeper with ease.
The visitors pulled a goal back five minutes from time, as Kane Thompson-Sommers fired home from outside the area.
Walsall looked to restore their three goal cushion moments later, but Lakin's effort from distance sailed over the crossbar, shortly before Josh Gordon fired wide.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by four-goals-to-two, adding further to their winning streak.
| OKAGBUE (32') L. GORDON (46') WILLIAMS (66') ADOMAH (81') |
HOGAN (14') THOMPSON-SOMMERS (85') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | SCOTT OLDHAM |
