Walsall 3 Brighton 0 - analysis

The Saddlers, so abject in their desperate 5-0 defeat to Bristol Rovers on Saturday, turned in the performance which was so sorely needed against Brighton last night.

Mark Bradley's first goal of the season, Troy Deeney's 11th and Anthony Gerrard's second set the tone for a thoroughly uplifting display which all but wiped away the memory of the Pirates nightmare.

The three-goal first half salvo settled the nerves and set up a comfortable night against a disappointing Brighton side.

It was a display which fans have been more accustomed to under Hutchings as the Saddlers quickly set about their task.

The goals, satisfying in their simplicity, set up the win although every silver lining has a cloud as Gerrard limped out with a calf injury which will rule him out for a month.

The gaping gap in defence needs to be plugged and with the loan deadline looming next week there is no time to lose.

The manager left assistant Martin O'Connor to face the media as he immediately started to call in a few favours. Expect defensive reinforcements to arrive imminently.

Alex Nicholls was the catalyst for a superb first half which ended the Brighton challenge before it began.

He tore into left-back David Livermore with such ferocity that the former Hull man was replaced at the break to save further embarrassment.

The winger, so desperate to be a striker, demonstrated pace and tenacity on the flank, proving he's more than useful out of position. Twice in the opening half hour he crossed for on rushing team-mates to net and forced Livermore to back-off so much the former Hull man will be walking backwards for a week.

But Nicholls merely typified the impressive steel from the hosts.

A comprehensive performance was demanded following the previous debacle at the Banks's and the Saddlers gave one of confidence and purpose.

Still reeling from the shock of a pasting at home they made just the one change from 'that' defeat after captain Stephen Hughes was withdrawn due to personal reasons. He was replaced by Bradley with the Welshman making his first start for a month.

A firecracker opening was needed to allay any fears of a repeat of Saturday and Deeney seized on Adam El-Abd's mis-kick to volley over after just 20 seconds before Jabo Ibehre forced an early corner. Nicholls then stole the ball off Livermore for the first time but failed to find the killer pass.

It was nothing spectacular but the need to remain rigid and focused had obviously been imparted to the team before they left the dressing room.

Clayton Ince had to race out of goal to stop the speeding Seb Carole after the winger had burst past Manny Smith in a rare moment of danger before the Saddlers took a deserved lead on 14 minutes.

Deeney's sweeping crossfield ball found Nicholls. He bustled his way past the woeful Livermore to find the onrushing Bradley who slotted in from seven yards.

The midfielder would have been desperate to impress on his return to the starting line up and his goal provided a welcome tonic to the evening's footballing cocktail.

It allowed the hosts to relax and with that, the game flowed their way.

Brighton were offering little in the way of resistance as the Saddlers prodded and probed and the hosts were further rewarded on the half hour.

Livermore, demonstrating a complete inability to defend, was chased down by Nicholls who blocked his attempted clearance before holding off a weak challenge and squaring for Deeney to stroke home off the post for his ninth goal in 14 games.

Such was the confidence, Rhys Weston opted to shoot, but failed to find his range , before Gerrard powered a header over from Sofiene Zaaboub's corner.

Nicholls then found Ibehre, who turned El-Abd but opted to find Deeney instead of shooting. The striker was struggling to find his rhythm and his decision not to chance his arm highlighted his lack of confidence.

But the home faithful didn't have to wait long for a third goal which duly arrived in the 39th minute.

Ibehre and Nicholls worked a short corner for the latter to find Smith at the far post. The defender headed back to Bradley to nod against the bar and Gerrard was there, three yards out to seal the game.

The similarities with Saturday's loss, when Bristol Rovers were 3-0 up at half time, would not have been lost on the home fans – nor would the potential of a 5-0 win.

Sadly, there would be no identical redemption but it was good enough.

Brighton manager Russell Slade had obviously identified the problems and his answer was to change half of his back four at the the break with the shell-shocked Livermore making way for Gary Borrowdale while El-Abd was replaced by Tommy Elphick.

But it was still Walsall who pressed as Ibehre stung the palms of Mikkel Andersen.

Matt Health and Borrowdale were booked as Brighton's frustrations grew and time ran out for them to save themselves.

They threatened briefly when Lloyd Owusu, who was kept quiet by Gerrard all evening, saw his nemesis deflect a header over before the Saddlers' captain limped out after 66 minutes.

Gerrard's depature was a blow but it didn't knock the hosts out of their stride as a mix-up between Carole and Andy Whing almost saw the latter slice into his own net.

Nicholls saw a deflected strike loop over the bar and seconds later the winger's drive was also redirected behind for a corner.

Saddlers could have added a fourth late on when Jason Jarrett found himself in trouble allowing Ibehre to pinch the ball. But the striker's lack of confidence was highlighted as he sliced horribly wide.

By Nick Mashiter.