Carabao Cup: Walsall 0 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (2-4 on pens) - Report and pictures

The Saddlers held their own against the Championship side throughout the match and edged an uneventful first half.

Substitute Matt Penney made an impact from the bench for the visitors and had several chances to score in the second half, but a resilient Walsall deservedly took the game to penalties.

Rory Holden and Elijah Adebayo netted their spot kick, but Josh Gordon had his saved while Alfie Bates hit the bar. Wednesday scored all four of their penalties and progressed 4-2.

Darrell Clarke started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with versatile defender Zak Jules starting at left-back and striker Gordon starting on the right of midfield.

Young midfielder Bates, who broke through last season, started in midfield with Liam Kinsella.

New goalkeeper signing Jack Rose was among the substitutes, alongside loanee George Nurse and academy graduate Joe Willis.

Experienced midfielders Stuart Sinclair and Danny Guthrie were missing from the squad, alongside Emmanuel Osadebe and Hayden White who both signed for the club on Thursday.

Gary Monk started with a 3-5-2 formation that consisted of former Wolves defender Dominic Iorfa at centre-back.

Isaiah Brown, who came through the West Brom academy, started up front with Adam Reach - with both operating more as false nines, than out-and-out strikers.

All 22 players and the match officials took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as the Owls got the game underway.

Despite the two-division gulf in the sides, the Saddlers started well and put together some nice passing moves from defence.

A Holden corner within the opening 10 minutes was flicked on by Caolan Lavery but Cameron Norman’s shot from the Wednesday clearance flew over the bar.

The game was still at a stalemate after 20 minutes with no clear-cut chances, with the visitors seeing most of their play come through Barry Bannan.

Shortly after, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru did well to turn Bates in midfield and drive towards goal, but his tame shot from the edge of the box trickled wide.

With neither club able to fashion a chance after 37 minutes, Walsall sprung a quick counter-attack through Gordon, but the forward was chopped down inside the Wednesday half. Referee Peter Wright waved away a free-kick.

As the game approached half-time, Gordon was found over the top by Kinsella. He ran towards goal, while being shepherded wide by the Wednesday defenders. His shot was then saved at the near post.

The sides entered the break drawing 0-0.

Within two minutes of the restart, the Owls almost opened the scoring when Kadeem Harris reached the byline and crossed low across goal. The ball evaded Liam Roberts before Jules cleared it within the six-yard box.

Lavery should have done better after 55 minutes when he found himself with space in the box. The chance came from a counter-attack and a lovely Gordon cross found the striker, but his first touch was heavy and the chance fizzled out.

The visitors then began to turn on the pressure and after Harris went close, substitute Penney had a strong shot turned around the post by Roberts.

Massimo Luongo then went close when he turned behind from close range.

Jules then did well to cover as Penney ran through from a counter-attack. His shot then cleared the bar.

Penney, who made the difference for Wednesday off the bench, then headed just over from a cross.

The sides could not be separated in 90 minutes as it ended 0-0 and the game was to be decided by penalties.

Holden netted first and was followed by Bannan for the visitors, before Gordon saw a tame effort saved - allowing Josh Windass the chance to put Wednesday ahead, which he did.

Adebayo then cooly slotted home, followed by Harris for the Owls.

Still behind on penalties, Bates smashed the crossbar with his effort and Brown tucked his away to give Wednesday a 4-2 win on penalties.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Norman, Scarr, Clarke, Jules, Kinsella, Bates, Gordon, McDonald (Nurse, 88), Holden, Lavery (Adebayo, 69).

Subs not used: Rose, Sadler, Cockerill-Mollett, Willis, Nolan.

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Harris, Iorfa, Bannan, Reach (Windass, 66), Borner, Lees, Dele-Bashiru (Rhodes, 78), Luongo, Odubajo (Penney, 60), Brown.

Subs not used: Wildsmith, Van Aken, Pelupessy, Rhodes, Hunt.