Walsall 4 Port Vale 3 - Report

Despite hitting the woodwork twice, the Saddlers found themselves 2-0 down at half-time. First, Top Pope tucked away a neat effort before Tom Conlon curled in a wonderful free-kick from 25 yards.

The hosts made four substitutions at half-time that inspired them to make it level by the 56th minute. Jake Scrimshaw netted his first goal in Walsall colours to get them back in the game before Dan Scarr finished low from a corner to equalise.

Vale regained the lead through Devante Rodney before two Walsall goals in two minutes catapulted Walsall into the lead for the first time in the game. In the 80th minute Scrimshaw smashed home before Scarr netted from a header in the 82min minute.

The rain started to lash down during the four minutes of added time but the Saddlers stood firm in defence to make it four wins in a row.

Darrell Clarke made one change to his side, sticking with the 4-2-3-1 formation.

After Zak Jules picked up an injury in mid-week the defender was unavailable. With George Nurse and Callum Cockerill-Mollett also struggling with knocks, the squad currently has no fit left-back.

Right-back Hayden White, who filled in at left-back when Jules came off against Oldham, came in on the left from the start.

Player-coach Mat Sadler took the remaining space on the bench.

Elijah Adebayo, who has scored in his last four games against Port Vale, started up front.

John Askey named an unchanged starting XI from the draw with Forest Green, starting in a 4-3-3 formation.

After a fairly scrappy start from both sides, Wes McDonald almost brought it to life with an electric solo run. His low cross was just behind Adebayo.

That combination almost proved fruitful again when McDonald danced beyond his marker and got to the byline. His lofted cross found Adebayo and his strike bounced back off the crossbar.

Luke Joyce was booked when his strong but poorly-timed tackle wiped out Liam Kinsella in midfield.

The woodwork again denied Walsall when a Adebayo cross from the left was met by Vale’s Zak Mills. The defender sliced the ball as it attempted to clear and it came back and hit his own post. Goalkeeper Scott Brown then claimed.

Rodney should have done better when he met an Alex Hurst cross but his header cleared the bar.

McDonald again looked dangerous as he cut inside from the left but his shot was blocked.

The Valiants took the lead after 37 minutes through Pope. The striker had been kept quiet through some good defending but took his one chance well. James Clarke missed a header and as Pope picked up the ball he turned inside Scarr and finished into the bottom corner.

On the stroke of half-time the visitors doubled their lead when Conlon curled in a free-kick from 25 yards.

The sides then entered the break with Vale leading 2-0.

In an attempt to get back into the game the Saddlers made four substitutions at half-time. Cameron Norman, Alfie Bates, Josh Gordon and Adebayo all came off for Sadler, Danny Guthrie, Scrimshaw and Caolan Lavery.

The changes also meant a change in formation as Walsall moved to a 4-4-2. Sadler went to left-back as White moved to right-back, while Rory Holden moved to the right wing. Scrimshaw and Lavery were paired up front.

It did not take long for Walsall to get back into the game as two of the substitutes combined in the 52nd minute. Guthrie played a long ball through to Scrimshaw who slid in ahead of the goalkeeper to finish.

Holden almost equalised when his header was tipped over the bar. The chance came as a follow-up from McDonald’s powerful shot.

But only four minutes after their first goal, Walsall did equalise. A Holden corner came through to Scarr who finished low from around eight yards.

Scrimshaw then had the ball in the net for Walsall’s third but the linesman adjudged White knocked the ball out of the play in the build-up and the goal was disallowed.

Vale regained the lead in the 75th minute when substitute David Amoo delivered a low cross from the right for Rodney who finished inside the six-yard box.

But only five minutes later the Saddlers struck again. White played a nice ball down the channel for Scrimshaw who, despite the acute angle, smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

With the game finely poised at 3-3 Walsall took the lead for the first time in the 82nd minute. A Holden corner was met by Scarr who powered a header home.

Mills should have dragged his team level when he was free at the back post but slashed his shot wide.

Hurst then had a low effort collected by Jack Rose.

After four minutes of added time Walsall hung on for the win to make it four consecutive League Two wins.

Walsall: Rose, Norman (Sadler, 45), Scarr, Clarke, White, Bates (Guthrie, 45), Kinsella, Gordon (Scrimshaw, 45), Holden, McDonald (Osadebe, 83), Adebayo (Lavery, 45)

Subs not used: Roberts, Sinclair.

Port Vale: Brown, Mills, Legge, Smith (Robinson, 86), Fitzpatrick, Burgess, Joyce (Crookes, 86), Conlon, Rodney, Pope (Amoo, 62), Hurst.

Subs not used: Visser, Oyeleke, Brisley, Whitehead.