Walsall 0 Portsmouth 1 - Report and pictures

The 39-year-old, who replaced the sacked Jon Whitney earlier this month, took his place in the Saddlers dugout for the first time after opting to watch the game against Wigan from the stands.

But it was Pompey who came away with the points after Gareth Evans netted with a smart low drive in the second half to see the promotion chasers to victory.

The visitors enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and looked the more dangerous of the two teams throughout.

Yet a spirited Walsall – while creating little themselves - largely restricted them to half-chances until Evan’s popped up with the winner.

The result means the Saddlers have now lost their last four games without scoring – with Keates’ men sitting just four points above the drop zone in League One.

Analysis

Keates sprung a surprise when naming his starting line-up with Florent Cuvelier coming in for his first start since December in central midfield.

George Dobson, who had impressed in the final months of Jon Whitney’s tenure, was the man to make way with Maz Kouhyar also moving to the bench following the return of Julien Ngoy from international duty.

It meant the Saddlers lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Erhun Oztumer operating behind lone frontman Amadou Bakayoko while Ngoy started wide left with Kieron Morris on the right.

Portsmouth, under the guidance of former Wolves boss Kenny Jackett, lined up in a 4-1-4-1 system with former Ipswich and Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman up top.

The visitors entered the game having won their last two matches in League One - with Pompey fans still harbouring hopes their team can gate-crash the play-offs late in the campaign.

And it was Jackett’s men who started the game on the front foot with Portsmouth enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the opening 20 minutes.

But while the visitors were eager to throw men forward whenever in possession, they only created a couple of half chances to open the scoring.

The first saw Luke Leahy make a good block to deny Jamal Lowe from 12-yards after Dion Donohue had sent in a deep cross form the right.

Liam Roberts then claimed a Ben Close volley from a similar distance following a whipped Gareth Evan’s ball from the right.

Portsmouth continued to look the more dangerous as the half reached the midway point with Pitman glancing a header wide following another Evans’ cross.

It took until the 40th minute for Walsall to register their first effort of the game – with Morris, who Keates kept telling to drift inside from the right, fired narrowly wide from 20-yards.

And while they upped the tempo as half-time approached, the Saddlers made their way off at the break still in the game but needing more quality and composure in the final third.

It was Pompey who threated first after the interval with Kal Naismith darting at goal before hitting a ferocious drive form 20-yards which a diving Roberts tipped around the post.

Naismith was becoming increasingly influential and after he sent a low drive inches wide from distance he was then at the heart of a move that should have seen Pompey take the lead.

The Scotsman collected the ball in the box before drilling a cross-come-shot which Pitman was a inches away from connecting with at the back post.

Walsall’s response was instant with Leahy fizzing in a cross and Bakayoko escaping the attentions of his marker before steering a powerful volley over.

But with 10 minutes remaining, Portsmouth managed to get their noses in front.

After Nicky Devlin sent a clearance up instead of away, the visitors managed to work the ball to Evans and he produced a smart finish to find the bottom right corner from 18-yards.

Walsall pushed to get back on terms in the closing stages.

And they almost got an equaliser in stoppage time when substitute Maz Kouhyar rose highest to met a corner only to see his header sail wide.

Key moments

6 A dangerous deep cross form Dion Donohue is brought down by Jamal Lowe but Luke Leahy does well to block his shot.

8 Brett Pitman scuffs a strike from 20-yards which is easy for Liam Roberts.

12 Gareth Evans' right-wing cross is met on the volley by Ben Close but his effort is held by Roberts.

24 Pitman's flicked header from Evans' cross drifts just wide of the far post.

27 Close's deflected shot is held by Roberts.

29 Close finds himself space inside the box but fires wide of the near post.

39 Kieron Morris sends a low drive narrowly wide from 20-yards.

49 Donohue fires a powerful effort over the bar on the angle from 18-yards.

53 Kal Naismith hits a ferocious drive from 20-yards which Roberts tips away.

60 Pitman’s looping header is held by Roberts.

65 Naismith sends a low effort from 25-yards narrowly passed the post.

73 Bakayoko diverts Leahy's fizzing cross just over the bar.

78 Pitman’s fierce free-kick is tipped over by Roberts.

80 Goal Portsmouth! Evans fires a low drive into the corner from 18-yards.

90+5 Maz Kouhyar heads wide from a corner.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Morris, Chambers, Cuvelier (Dobson 72), Ngoy (Kouhyar 67), Oztumer (Shaibu 83), Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Kinsella, Flanagan, K. Roberts.

Portsmouth: McGee, Walkes, Clarke, Pitman, Whatmough, Donohue, Lowe, Thompson, Naismith, Evans, Close (Ronan 77).

Subs not used: Bass, Burgess, O’Keefe, Hawkins, Kennedy, Haunstrup.