Walsall 3 Exeter 1 - Report and pictures

The Saddlers made the perfect start to the game when Rory Holden put them in front in the third minute. Walsall held onto that lead going into half-time, in a 45 minute period where they dominated and should have capitalised on further chances.

Within minutes of the re-start, striker Ryan Bowman pulled Exeter level, before a second goal for the forward was chalked off for offside - despite the linesman originally not flagging.

Substitute Elijah Adebayo then came to Walsall’s rescue with an excellent headed finish to put them ahead, before tapping in a third in added time to wrap up the three points for the home side.

After a break last weekend, when their clash with Stevenage was postponed, Darrell Clarke made five changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Port Vale the week before, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Liam Roberts returned in goal after overcoming an illness, while Cameron Norman, James Clarke, Stuart Sinclair and Caolan Lavery all came into the starting XI.

Shay Facey missed out on the squad altogether - as did 15-year-old striker Luke Pearce, who made the 20-man squad but not the final 18.

Matt Taylor made two changes to the Exeter starting XI, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Walsall made the perfect start to the game with a goal inside the first three minutes. Josh Gordon crossed from the left, which was parried by goalkeeper Lewis Ward, but the ball fell to Holden in the six-yard box and after taking a touch, he finished it neatly into the corner.

With the Saddlers on top, Wes McDonald almost doubled their lead with a rasping shot in the 12th minute. He ran the length of the Exeter half with the ball and curled an effort, which was almost fumbled into the net by Ward.

Minutes later, Lavery should have scored. More excellent build-up play saw a cross headed down by Norman and after a deflection the ball landed to Lavery, who had a free attempt from five yards - but he got under the ball and lifted it over the bar.

Exeter struggled to get out of first gear with Walsall dominating and in the 28th minute the hosts spurned another chance. Danny Guthrie’s free-kick was met by Dan Scarr but his free header was directed over the bar.

After a period towards the end of the half where the Walsall pressure died down, the teams went into half-time with the hosts still leading 1-0 - although they could have been further ahead.

In the 51st minute, Exeter came good on a promising start to the second-half with an equalising goal. The visitors broke quickly from a Walsall attack and Randell Williams crossed superbly for Bowman, who powered home a header at the back post.

Walsall responded well, however, and almost took the lead again when McDonald’s quick break allowed him to take aim from the edge of the box, but the powerful effort whistled just over the bar.

In the 64th minute, Bowman thought he had put Exeter ahead. A free-kick was crossed in and the striker tapped it home but after the celebrations the referee consulted the linesman and offside was eventually given.

Adebayo was introduced in the 68th minute and by the 72nd he had put Walsall ahead. An excellent Norman cross was met by the towering striker who beat his man to head the hosts in front.

With Exeter pushing for an equaliser in added time, Walsall broke and notched a third goal. Gordon did superbly to win the ball in midfield and run at the defence, with a slip putting him one-on-one with Ward, who saved his initial shot. The ball then popped back for Gordon who crossed for Adebayo to tap in his second of the game.

That goal secured the three points for Walsall and made it five unbeaten in the league.

Walsall: Roberts, Norman, Clarke, Scarr, Pring, Guthrie (Sheron 79), Sinclair (Kinsella 68), Holden, McDonald, Gordon, Lavery (Adebayo 68).

Subs not used: Rose, Sadler, Bates, Nolan.

Exeter: Ward, Atangana (Taylor 45), Martin, Law (Fisher 73), Williams, Bowman, Parkes, Jay, Richardson, Dickenson (Sweeney 73), Collins.

Subs not used: Thompson, Martin, Ajose, Moxey.

Attendance: 5,521 (638 away).