Crawley 2 Walsall 3 - Report and pictures

Captain James Clarke followed up his spectacular overhead kick last week with a 35-yard screamer to put the visitors ahead, before a Elijah Adebayo goal and a Wes McDonald finish, either side of a Crawley penalty, saw Walsall lead 3-1 at the break.

Josh Payne pulled one back for Crawley in added time at the end of the game but the Saddlers hung on for victory.

Darrell Clarke kept the 4-4-2 formation for the fourth game running but made two changes to the team that beat Scunthorpe last time out.

Elijah Adebayo came straight back into the starting XI on his return from injury, replacing Caolan Lavery who picked up a hamstring injury in the last game.

He partnered Rory Gaffney up front with Josh Gordon on the bench.

Mat Sadler made his first start since the loss against Grimsby, replacing Gary Liddle, who was dropped to the bench.

Skipper James Clarke took Liddle’s place at right-back, with Sadler pairing Scarr at centre-back.

Wes McDonald kept his place in left-wing with Liam Kinsella among the substitutes.

Alfie Bates was the only player on the bench in the last game to lose his place in the squad against Crawley.

Gabriele Cioffi’s Crawley made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Northampton in their last league game.

Ashley Nathaniel-George, David Sesay, Panutche Camara and 40-year-old Dannie Bulman all came into the side who lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Of those four, however, Sesay, Camara and Bulman all started the Carabao Cup victory over Stoke in mid-week.

Bez Lubala, who has scored six league goals in 10 games from left-wing, dropped to the bench, while striker Ollie Palmer, who played 90 minutes against Stoke, was left out of the squad.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the opening minutes of the game with chances coming at a premium.

The majority of Walsall’s joy came from Adebayo’s impressive hold-up play, which often brought McDonald into the game before chances fizzled out.

Stuart Sinclair was also busy in the opening phases, putting in some strong tackles, while Crawley had some good link-up play between Sesay and Reece Grego-Cox.

Then, almost out of no-where, Walsall were ahead after a thunderbolt from skipper James Clarke.

Some thought it wasn’t possible for the defender to do better than his overhead kick against Scunthorpe, but the 29-year-old somehow managed it in the 14th minute.

McDonald was shielding the ball in the corner before feeding Gaffney who switched the play to Clarke. The defender then unleashed a rocket of a shot in front of the travelling supporters, leaving Glenn Morris with no chance as it rifled into the top corner.

As the Walsall fans continued to make noise behind the goal, Crawley almost levelled the score through Grego-Cox.

The winger was causing the defence all sorts of problems and had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away by referee Sam Purkiss.

He went close again moments later with a cross that needed tipping over from Liam Roberts.

Despite the Red Devils piling on the pressure, Walsall doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark.

Gaffney did well to knock-on his header which landed to Adebayo on the edge of the box. The striker sprayed it out wide to McDonald who got to the byline after taking on the Crawley defender.

A smart, low cross from the winger was met by Adebayo who turned home from close range to earn his first goal for the club.

Crawley almost responded quickly after striker Mason Bloomfield rounded Roberts following a deflection in the box. Scarr reacted quickly to block the shot and save his team from the hosts pulling a goal back.

But the hosts finally got their goal in the 42nd minute as Bloomfield is put through on goal and again tries to round Roberts.

The Saddlers goalkeeper dives and makes contact with the striker who tries to carry on before hitting the floor. The resulting penalty is tucked away by Nathaniel-George, despite complaints from Walsall defenders about an encroaching Crawley player.

In an entertaining game it was Walsall who struck again only two minutes later. Rory Holden found McDonald who cut in from the left-wing and curled a beautiful effort into the far corner - his first professional goal in football.

After being pegged back Walsall went into half-time with a restored two-goal lead.

After replacing Nathaniel-George at half-time, Lubala went close for Crawley in the opening minutes of the second 45 when a rasping 30-yard shot whistled just wide of the post.

Shortly after the former Birmingham winger then played the ball to Nathan Ferguson who rifled his shot just wide from the edge of the box.

As the game approached the 70th minute, chances were limited for Walsall who were defending deep.

Despite Crawley having most of the ball, and the opportunities on goal, the Saddlers were still able to keep them at arm's-length and forced them into long-range efforts.

Dogged defending was keeping Walsall’s lead in tact as an excellent last-ditch tackle from Clarke stopped the on-coming Lubala.

But their good work was almost undone with 15 minutes left on the clock when full-back Sesay was given space in the box, before he sent a powerful shot just over the bar.

Lubala was again in the thick of the action with five minutes to go when he forced Roberts into a strong save after unleashing a powerful shot straight at the ‘keeper.

Josh Payne pulled a goal back in extra time but Walsall held onto their lead and saw the game out to win on the road for the third time this season.

Walsall: Roberts, Sadler, Clarke, Scarr, Jules, Holden, Guthrie (Liddle 60), Sinclair, McDonald (Kinsella 55), Gaffney, Adebayo (Gordon 55).

Subs not used: Rose, Norman, Cockerill-Mollett, Hardy.

Crawley: Morris, Young, Dallison, Grego-Cox, Ferguson (Allarakhia 90), Nathaniel-George (Lubala 45), Bloomfield, Sesay, Tunnicliffe, Bulman (Payne 63), Camara.

Subs not used: Luyambula, Sendles-White, Galach, Boadu.

Attendance: 2274 (264 Walsall)