EFL Trophy: Bristol Rovers 2 Walsall 2 (2-4 on pens) - Report and pictures

In normal time, Tom Mehew gave the hosts the lead with a fine low strike, before Zak Jules and Josh Gordon scored in either half to put Walsall ahead.

Jonah Ayunga then struck in the 71st minute to force the game to penalties and ensure both sides got a point in the competition.

But it was Walsall who went on to secure the bonus point after a 4-2 win on penalties.

Darrell Clarke made five changes to his side after Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday, starting in a 4-3-3 formation.

Rose, Hayden White, George Nurse, Emmanuel Osadebe and Jack Nolan all came into the side - with White and Osadebe making their Walsall debuts.

For 19-year-old winger Nolan, it was his first start for the Saddlers.

Ben Garner made six changes to his Rovers side, starting in a 5-3-2, after their 3-0 loss to Ipswich in the Carabao Cup at the weekend.

Former Walsall defender Luke Leahy was not involved for the Gas, despite starting Saturday’s loss.

The game was all action in the opening 10 minutes as both sides created chances. First, Ayunga did well to bring the ball down and shoot on the turn, but blazed over.

Then, Osadebe hit the post with a deflected volley from Gordon’s cross. Caolan Lavery then lashed the rebound over the bar only yards out.

David Tutonda then went close for the hosts, receiving the ball in acres of space at the back post, reaching the byline and flashing it across goal, with no takers for a tap-in.

After 15 minutes, Rovers took the lead through Mehew when he received the ball on the edge of the box. The Walsall defence failed to close him down and he rifled his shot into the bottom right corner.

Debutant White was lucky not to see his side concede a second after he gave the ball away unchallenged, allowing Ayunga to be played in over the top. The striker then fouled James Clarke while tussling for the ball - otherwise he would have had a free shot at goal.

Just before the half-hour mark Walsall equalised against the run of play. A Nolan corner was delivered into the perfect space and Jules attacked it firmly to head Walsall level.

Only minutes later, Mehew was facing Rose with a free shot after some poor Clarke defending, but the goalkeeper saved well with his feet.

After a back-and-forth first half, the sides entered the break drawing 1-1.

After a quiet first 10 minutes of the second period, Walsall made a triple substitution in the 57th minute, changing to a 4-2-3-1 and introducing Wes McDonald, Rory Holden and Cameron Norman.

The change gave Walsall an instant added impetus as they penned the hosts back and within minutes they took the lead. A superb cross from Norman found Gordon who guided a glancing header into the far corner.

It did not take long for the hosts to equalise, however, when Ayunga latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and finished low beyond Rose in the 71st minute.

With both sides vying for a winner, the game finished 2-2 and was to be decided by penalties.

Norman, McDonald, Lavery and Gordon scored for Walsall, while Holden had one saved.

Rose made two superb stops from Michael Kelly and Cian Harries to give the Saddlers the penalty win and secure the extra EFL Trophy point.

Teams

Walsall: Rose, White (Norman, 57), Clarke, Jules, Nurse, Kinsella, Bates, Osadebe (Holden, 57), Nolan (McDonald, 57), Gordon, Lavery.

Subs not used: Roberts, Scarr, Perry, Adebayo.

Bristol Rovers: Van Stappershoef, Kilgour, Kelly, Hargreaves (Daly, 70), Ayunga, Hare, Mehew (Grant, 85), Tutonda, Harries, Baldwin, Walke (Mitchell-Lawson, 70).

Subs not used: Andre, Little, Martinez, Heal.