Stevenage 3 Walsall 1 - match report

Walsall suffered their first defeat since the opening day of the season after going down 3-1 at Stevenage.

Former Walsall loanee Robin Shroot's first-half opener was cancelled out by George Bowerman's third goal of the season before Greg Tansey's screamer.

Lucas Akins' late effort gave the scoreline a flattering look but the Saddlers were rarely in top gear.

Ashley Hemmings' 40-yard free kick hit the post for Walsall during a flat first half as they dropped to ninth in League One.

The Saddlers were unchanged following Saturday's 2-1 win at Portsmouth and began well enough.

But there was little threat for either side with the Saddlers frustrating the hosts who, despite seeing more of the ball, struggled to break the visitors down.

Boro rarely afforded Walsall time on the ball, wary of their passing threat, and nullified their game in the opening 20 minutes.

Luke Freeman flashed Stevenage's first chance wide after 20 minutes but five minutes later they went ahead.

Former Saddlers loanee Shroot received the ball with his back to goal and held off Dean Holden to turn and fire a 20-yard effort across David Grof into the corner.

James Baxendale curled straight at Chris Day as the Saddlers tried to respond but they were well shackled by a resilient Boro.

But Walsall came close to a fortuitous leveller when Hemmings' 40-yard free kick, intended as a cross, drifted across the box and stuck the base of the post on the half hour.

Shroot blasted over as Stevenage chased a second and started to dictate the play with the Saddlers unable to find a rhythm.

The trend continued after the break as Boro began brightly with Shroot's header forcing Grof into a flying save on 55 minutes.

But the Saddlers hauled themselves level on the hour when Paterson's corner was return to the winger and his delightful cross was headed in by Bowerman.

It stunned the hosts into action and after several long range efforts Tansey finally beat Grof from 30-yards to make it 2-1 with 17 minutes remaining.

And Boro ended Walsall's challenge with four minutes left when ex-Albion striker Marcus Haber wriggled free and Tansey crossed for the unmarked Akins to finish from 10-yards.