EFL Trophy: Walsall 1 Southampton U21s 0 - Report and pictures

A first goal of the season from defender Dan Scarr, just before half-time, was the difference between the sides, when he tapped home from close range.

The Saddlers hung on for the remainder of the game to get their first three points in Group D.

Darrell Clarke made six changes to the team that defeated Crawley 3-2 last time out, while also reverting back to the 3-5-2 formation that he’d used earlier in the season.

Liam Roberts kept his place in goal, as Jack Rose, on-loan from the opponents, was cup tied - meaning academy goalkeeper Dominic Rogerson was on the bench.

Cameron Norman made his first start since the goalless draw at Colchester, taking up right-wing-back, while Callum Cockerill-Mollett occupied the left side.

Dan Scarr, Mat Sadler and Zak Jules started as the three centre-backs, while Gary Liddle, Liam Kinsella and Alfie Bates started in centre-midfield.

Josh Gordon partnered Rory Gaffney up front with goalscorers in the Crawley win, Elijah Adeabyo and Wes McDonald, among the substitutes.

Young defender Tom Leak also made the bench alongside Jack Kiersey and Kory Roberts, who has returned from a horrific leg break back in July 2018.

Southampton U21s travelled to the Black Country on the back of a slim 3-2 defeat against League Two side Forest Green Rovers in the first game of the EFL Trophy, now called the Leasing.com Trophy.

Manager Radhi Jaidi made six changes to his side from that game, playing in a 3-5-2 formation.

In a wet and cold Banks’s Stadium, the first chance came from a nice one-two move from Saints which set up captain Callum Slattery. The midfielder slashed his shot over the bar from inside the box.

Southampton continued to apply the pressure and a half-volley from Jake Vokins, after a Saints corner, whistled just over the bar.

Lucas Defise then went close for the visitors, meeting a long ball and trying to lob the oncoming Roberts, only to send his effort into the stand when he should have done better.

With the hosts limited for chances, the best came with 10 minutes to go in the first half when Gordon met a whipped cross from a Norman free-kick, sending his effort just wide of the post.

Walsall made the breakthrough just before half-time when Jules picke the ball up, after a wasted corner, dribbled his way into the box and played a low cross for Scarr who tapped home from close range.

The introduction of McDonald at half-time meant Walsall went back to a 4-4-2 formation.

And the winger was causing the Saints defence issues early on as he looked to dribble to the byline and whip in dangerous crosses, one of which was inches away from being turned in by Gordon.

Just after the 70th minute mark Gordon missed a golden opportunity to double Walsall’s lead. He does well to nick the ball of the last man and race towards goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his shot is placed directly at Harry Lewis who palms it away.

As the game entered stoppage time defender Roberts replaced Gaffney to make his long-awaited return from injury.

And shortly after the whistle was blown for full-time as the Saddlers hung on for the victory, making it four points from their first two games in the competition.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Norman, Sadler, Liddle, Scarr, Jules, Cockerill-Mollett (McDonald 45), Kinsella, Bates, Gaffney (Roberts 92), Gordo (Adebayo 78).

Subs not used: Rogerson, Roberts, Hardy, Kiersey, Leak.

Southampton U21: Lewis, Vokins, Slattery, Ramsay, N’Lundulu, Hansen (Mitchell 75), O’Driscoll, Klarer, Ledwidge (Norton 63), Jankewitz, Defise.

Subs not used: Bycroft, Turner, Chauke, Rus, Keogh.

Attendance: 732