Saddlers cup hero Kieron Morris is hailed by boss Dean

The 20-year-old smashed home from 25 yards out with just three minutes remaining of last night's first-round tie at Roots Hall to earn the Saddlers a 2-1 win.

Morris had been introduced in place of Mal Benning with just 14 minutes remaining as the hosts were pressing for victory with the score level at 1-1.

"It was a fantastic strike," said Smith. "I thought Mal was starting to look a little tired so we put Kieron on.

"I thought he would go and get hold of the ball for us – which he did – and he is a finisher as well.

"It was a great move full of passing and a superb finish. He scores goals and he always has – at reserve level, at youth level so we are all really pleased with him because he is a likeable lad and if he knuckles down and concentrates when we don't have the ball he could be a real asset for us.

"It was nice to get two goals off the production line."

Benning – who like Morris is a former youth teamer – had put the Saddlers ahead just past the midway point of the first half.

Tom Bradshaw then saw a goal disallowed for offside before Southend proceeded to dominate much of the second period, deservedly levelling through Ryan Leonard's blistering free-kick. Saddlers keeper Richard O'Donnell pulled off a fantastic save from Luke Prosser to keep things all square and then, with extra-time looming, Morris hammered the winner.

"It was another thorough examination," said Smith. "The first half I was OK with but I think we lost our way a bit in the second half when they put a lot of pressure on us and we struggled to cope. But we withstood it, I wasn't sure about the free-kick for their goal and I thought Tom Bradshaw's goal was onside too. Then Kieron pops up with a great finish to win it."