Walsall 0 Morecambe 2 - Report and pictures

After a strong start to the half Wes McDonald earned a penalty before getting up off the turf to have his effort saved.

The home side were made to pay for this missed opportunity when poor marking at a second-half corner allowed Morecambe centre-back Steven Old to head home in front of the travelling fans.

Walsall failed to get back into the game in the closing stages before a late Carlos Mendes-Gomes goal condemned the hosts to back-to-back defeats.

Darrell Clarke made three changes to his side that lost 2-1 away at Carlisle on Saturday, starting in a 4-4-2 formation.

Cameron Norman, Danny Guthrie and Caolan Lavery all came into the side, meaning Rory Holden and Liam Kinsella dropped to the bench, while captain James Clarke missed out through injury.

Shay Facey took his place on the bench, making his return from a spell on the sidelines.

Derek Adams made two changes to the Morecambe side that drew 1-1 with Cambridge last time out, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Walsall started the game as the brighter team and looked a threat on both flanks. The first chance of the game fell to Mat Sadler who knocked the ball just wide of the post after meeting a corner with a half-volley.

Mendes-Gomes had a potentially good chance not long after. He came flying down the right wing and had an opportunity to shoot on goal, but took too many touches and his eventual cross was caught.

The golden chance came in the 23rd minute when McDonald won Walsall a penalty. The winger was brought down after an excellent run down the left wing. The 22-year-old took the ball off designated penalty taker Josh Gordon but his effort was saved by Christopher Mafoumbi down to his right.

Walsall’s early dominance was starting to fade in the 35th minute as the visitors began to see more of the ball. Adam Phillips volleyed wide from a cleared cross, shortly after.

Ryan Cooney then had a good chance but his shot on the edge of the box was straight at Liam Roberts.

Walsall responded with a Guthrie corner which was met with a powerful Gordon header, which was straight at the goalkeeper.

In an end-to-end game Phillips again went close when his shot was fired just over the bar. It followed a good passing move from the visitors.

Just before half-time Jordan Slew and Gordon were involved in some handbags after the latter fouled the Morecambe man. Both players were booked.

After a half where both sides had chances on goal, they entered the break goalless.

As the sides emerged for the second half, Jack Nolan was brought on to replace Gordon.

Within minutes there was a lengthy stoppage in play as Cooney was left in a heap with an injury to his ankle. A stretcher was required to take him off and Christian Mbulu replaced him.

Walsall changed to a 4-3-3 formation when Elijah Adebayo and Guthrie were replaced by Holden and Stuart Sinclair - with the latter making his return from injury.

In a frantic affair, neither side was able to fashion a proper chance up until the 65th minute. Morecambe had a half-chance when Phillips’ low cross evaded all of his team-mates, despite a handful of yellow shirts getting into good positions in the box.

But minutes later, the visitors struck first. Old was the first to meet a corner and his header clipped the bar as it trickled over the line.

The Saddlers continued to huff and puff following the goal, but failed to create any chances as the 3,000-strong home crowd began to become impatient.

A chance did fall for the Saddlers moments later, however, when Pring galloped forward down the left and produced a wonderful cross for Lavery, who was sliding in for a tap in, but the ball was cleared just ahead of him.

Lavery went close again within minutes of the first chance with a header on the edge of the box, which was lashed just wide of the post - before the striker again met a header which this time sailed over the bar.

As the game fizzled out, fans became even more frustrated as the Saddlers struggled to string any passes together, or find Nolan who was often screaming for the ball in acres of space on the right flank.

Centre-back Dan Scarr, who moved up front in the closing stages, shot on the turn and the ball hit the post and came back out and landed in the goalkeeper's arms.

The Shrimps then charged up field and played Mendes-Gomes through. The forward turned inside and curled his effort into the bottom corner.

The strike was the last action of the game as Morecambe came away 2-0 winners.

Walsall: Roberts, Norman, Sadler, Scarr, Pring, Gordon (Nolan 45), Guthrie (Holden 55), Sheron, McDonald, Adebayo (Sinclair 55), Lavery.

Subs not used: Rose, Facey, K.Roberts, Kinsella.

Morecambe: Mafoumbi, Old, Stockton, Wildig, Lavelle, Mendes-Gomes, Slew (Leitch-Smith 64), Cooney (Mbulu 52), Phillips (Brewitt 82), Diagouraga, Cranston.

Subs not used: Halstead, Conlan, Kenyon

Attendance: 3,554 (126 away).