Southend 0 Walsall 2 - Report and pictures

Goals in each half from Tom Bradshaw and Sam Mantom earned impressive Walsall a first League One win of the season.

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Top scorer Bradshaw notched his fourth of the campaign when he rifled home after just eight minutes.

Mantom then doubled the lead early in the second half with his first goal for 17 months.

Sluggish Southend rallied late but Jason Demetriou preserved the Saddlers clean sheet when he hacked David Worrall's header off the line.

Despite some nervy moments late on, the final scoreline was a more than fair reflection of the game.

Dean Smith's men controlled proceedings for the first hour in an impressive display full of attractive, attacking football.

But for some excellent saves from home goalkeeper Dan Bentley, they would have won by more.

Having made three changes for Tuesday's 4-3 win at Nottingham Forest, Smith made another two for this game.

Romaine Sawyers and fit-again Andy Taylor coming in for Milan Lalkovic and Kieron Morris, as the Saddlers reverted to three at the back.

It was the hosts who began brightest, with visiting goalkeeper Neil Etheridge called upon as early as the second minute to keep out Joe Pigott's low drive, David Mooney putting the rebound wide.

Southend (4-4-2): Bentley, White, Bolger, Barrett, Coker, Leonard, Wordsworth, Deegan (Worrall 54), Weston (Hurst 71), Pigott, Mooney (Payne 33).

Subs not used: Prosser, Timlin, Atkinson, Smith (gk).

Walsall (3-5-1-1): Etheridge, Downing, O'Connor, Taylor, Demetriou, Chambers, Mantom, Flanagan (Baxendale 71), Henry (Forde 71), Sawyers, Bradshaw (Cook 79).

Subs not used: Lalkovic, Preston, Morris, MacGillivray (gk).

Goals: Bradshaw 8, Mantom 48.

Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).[/breakout]

But just six minutes later the Saddlers were ahead, as Bradshaw continued where he left off against Forest.

The striker beat team-mate Demetriou's cross before turning and firing a low finish past Bentley and into the bottom corner.

Shaken by going behind, Southend were looking sloppy in possession and a misplaced Joe Pigott allowed Demetriou to advance, though his attempted chip cleared the bar by a distance.

The hosts began to settle and only a vital interception from Rico Henry prevented Ryan Leonard getting on the end of Myles Weston's cross.

Leonard then fired a dangerous ball across the six yard box, with no-one present to apply the finish.

But it was the Saddlers who impressed more in attack with Romaine Sawyers prominent.

The playmaker showed great vision to play in Bradshaw but from the corner of the box the striker for once failed to make a clean connection.

Minutes later, Sawyers found Mantom in space 12 yards out but the latter could only shoot tamely right at Bentley.

Such was the Saddlers dominance in midfield, Southend boss Phil Brown was forced into a tactical change as early as the 33rd minute, with David Mooney being replaced by Jack Payne.

It failed to have the desired effect and three minutes after the break, the Saddlers went further ahead.

Taylor's cross was cleared only as far as Mantom on the edge of the box and this time he made no mistake, striking a first time shot into the bottom corner for his first goal since March 2014.

Sawyers had a chance to put the game firmly out of Southend's reach when Bradshaw found him unmarked six yard out, but Bentley saved with his legs.

Andy Taylor also headed over as the Saddlers continued to push. The hosts, however, were not dead yet and Leonard fired warning of this when he sent a shot just over from 25 yards out.

A perfectly-timed challenge from Taylor was also required to deny Wordsworth as he went to shoot from the edge of the box.

Wordsworth then had the ball in the net when he headed home a cross from substitute Worrall's cross, only to be denied by an offside flag.

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Etheridge had to react smartly to keep out a low shot from the lively Worrall, who then came closer to pulling one back with a header which Demetriou hacked off the line.

Mantom went close to easing any nerves after being played in by substitute James Baxendale, but Bentley saved well.

Baxendale then beat the keeper after being played in on the left of the box but covering defender Cian Bolger hacked his goalbound shot behind.

Southend continued to press but Etheridge proved equal to a Kevan Hurst volley and the Saddlers held firm, with only another fine Bentley stop denying Jordan Cook in stoppage time.

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