Walsall 1 Rotherham 2 - Report and pictures

In an open and entertaining encounter, the Miller’s took the lead after just 56 seconds when Semi Ajayi tapped in David Ball’s low cross.

Walsall hit-back just 10 minutes later when Joe Edwards powerfully headed home Luke Leahy’s cross following a wonderful cross-field ball from Nicky Devlin.

The Miller’s retook the lead in the second half with Ball firing in from close range after Kieffer Moore had seen a header blocked by Jon Guthrie.

Both teams then went on to create good goal scoring opportunities with substitute Simeon Jackson missing a glorious chance for the Saddlers when he hit a tame shot straight at Marek Rodak just yards from goal.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney opted to keep faith with the team that secured back-to-back draws against Rochdale and Bristol Rovers.

Sticking with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Daniel Agyei continued as the lone front man with Erhun Oztumer in the number 10 role and Kieron Morris and Zeli Ismail on the wings.

Rotherham, under the guidance of manager Paul Warne, lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 system with David Ball partnering Jerry Yates up front and ex-saddler Anthony Forde on the right wing.

Incredibly it took the visitors just 56 seconds to open the scoring with Forde playing his part in the goal.

After the winger’s free-kick had only been half-cleared, Ball and Lee Frecklington combined well in the box before the striker delivered a low cross which was tapped home from close range by Ajayi.

Despite the early set-back, Walsall rallied and pulled themselves level just 10 minutes later.

A wonderful cross-field ball from Nicky Devlin was well brought down by Luke Leahy who then cut-inside a defender before whipping in a cross.

And that delivery was met by Edwards who timed his run to perfection to powerfully plant a header past Marek Rodak and into the top corner.

Despite the goals, the match had proved relatively cagey as the half reached its midway point.

But that all changed as the clock ticked towards the half hour mark with both teams creating decent opportunists to take the lead.

First, good play from Ismail and Oztumer saw Walsall work the ball to Agyei in the box. The Burnley loanee then nut-megged Joe Mattock only to lose his footing just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Then at the other end, a ball over the top got Forde in-behind the Saddlers’ defence. But from a tight angle the winger saw a shot well blocked by Mark Gillespie.

Now the game was proving an open and entertaining encounter with both teams looking dangerous whenever they were in possession.

And the Saddlers came a whisker away from taking the lead in the 40th minute when Ismail won the ball in midfield before finding Agyei. He then slid in Oztumer who brilliantly cut-inside his marker before firing a strike just inches past the post.

Rotherham’s response was instant with Forde darting up the other end and sending in a cross which Frecklington volleyed towards goal only to see his effort deflect over off Kory Roberts.

Then from the resultant corner, the Saddlers countered at pace with Ismail darting from one end of the field to the other before sending in a through-ball which Rodak claimed just in front of Agyei.

Rotherham made a change at the break with top scorer Kieffer Moore replacing Yates.

It was Walsall though who created the first clear chance of the second half with a goal mouth scramble ending with Edwards seeing a goal-bound strike somewhat fortuitously blocked by the legs of a Miller’s defender.

Rotherham hit back with Ryan Williams standing up a cross to the back post which Moore headed wide under pressure from Jon Guthrie.

Just before the hour mark though, Warne’s side did get themselves back in front.

A Josh Emmanuel cross was met in the air by Moore but his header was blocked by Guthrie. But the ball fell kindly for Ball who fired in from close range.

Whitney, having earlier switched Maz Kouhyar for Morris, made his second change in the 67th minute with Simeon Jackson replacing Agyei.

And just moments later the striker should have pulled the Saddlers level after Ismail had whipped in a dangerous cross.

Ajayi tried to control the delivery but the ball bounced off him and fell kindly for Jackson. But just yards from goal the Canadian international hit a tame effort that was easily claimed by Rodak.

Rotherham continued to look dangerous with Moore heading powerfully heading wide from a corner before he then saw another header well blocked by Guthrie.

In the final 10 minutes though, the Saddlers began putting the Miller’s goal under lots of pressure with Whitney’s men winning a number of corners as well as free-kicks around the box.

But despite five minutes of stoppage time, they couldn’t force their way through with Warne’s men defending resolutely to cling on to all three points.

Key moments

1 Goal Rotherham. David Ball and Lee Frecklington combine well in the box before Ball sends in a low cross which is tapped home by Semi Ajayi.

11 Goal Walsall. Nicky Devlin’s cross-field ball is well controlled by Luke Leahy. He then sends in a pin-point cross that is headed home by Luke Leahy.

17 Zeli Ismail tees up Edwards, whose fierce strike from 25-yards is held by Marek Rodak.

28 Good work from Ismail and Erhun Oztumer allows Walsall to find Dan Agyei in the box. He then nut-megs Joe Mattock before slipping just as he’s about to shoot.

29 From a right angle, Anthony Forde sees a strike saved by Mark Gillespie.

32 Ismail's looping free-kick is headed back across goal by Kory Roberts but Rotherham eventually clear.

40 Agyei slides the ball through to Oztumer, who cuts back inside his marker before firing a left-footed shot agonisingly past the post.

41 Anthony Forde sends in a cross which Lee Frecklington volleys towards goal. But the midfielder’s deflects off Kory Roberts and sails over the Walsall bar.

42 The Saddlers counter at pace but Ismail's final pass towards Agyei is slightly over-hit and claimed by Rodak.

53 A goal mouth scramble ends with Edwards seeing a strike fortuitously blocked by the legs of a Rotherham defender.

57 Kieffer Moore heads into the side netting following a deep cross from Ryan Williams.

58 Goal Rotherham. Josh Emmanuel's cross is headed goalwards by Moore and turned in by David Ball from close range.

69 Ismail’s cross bounces of Ajayi into the path of Simeon Jackson. But just yards from goal the striker hits a tame effort straight at Rodak.

71 Forde's corner is powerfully headed over by Moore.

89 Williams skips inside Roberts but his rasping drive is straight at Gillespie.

Teams

Walsall: Gillespie, Devlin, K. Roberts, Guthrie, Leahy (Candlin 84), Chambers, Edwards, Ismail, Oztumer, Morris (Kouhyar 61), Agyei (Jackson 67).

Subs not used: L. Roberts, Wilson, Devlin, Flanagan.

Rotherham: Rodak, Emmanuel, Vaulks, Ajayi, Mattock, Forde, Frecklington (Wood 63), Towell, Williams, Yates (Moore 46), Ball (Newell 90).

Subs not used: O'Donnell, Cummings. Ihiekwe, Clarke-Harris.