Blackpool 0 Walsall 4 - Report and pictures

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Walsall moved to the top of League One after continuing their unbeaten start to the season with a 4-0 victory over crisis club Blackpool.more

Two goals from Romaine Sawyers, one an early contender for goal of the season, as well as a Sam Mantom header and own goal secured the commanding win.

In front of a sparse crowd as Blackpool fans stayed away in protest to the way owner Karl Oyston is running the club, Walsall were roared to victory by 1,803 travelling Saddlers.

Boss Dean Smith will be delighted with the way his side, after a slow start, dominated proceedings for 70 minutes with Rico Henry, Jason Demetriou and Mantom particularly impressive.

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For the sixth time in seven games, Smith made two changes when naming his starting line-up.

Andy Taylor and Sawyers were both handed recalls at the expense of Kieron Morris and Milan Lalkovic as the boss reverted back to a 3-5-2 formation.

For Blackpool, £180,000 striker Mark Cullen started up front.

Despite not having won a game since January 31, it was the home side who started brightest and almost broke the deadlock inside the first minute.

Full-back David Ferguson jinked his way past two challenges to get into the box and then hit a fierce drive which Etheridge did well to hold.

Walsall were struggling to find any rhythm in the opening stages and Blackpool again came close with Henry Cameron fizzing a half-volley wide from the edge of box.

Blackpool: Letheren, Boyce, Robertson, Aldred, Ferguson, Cameron, Potts (Cubero 62), McAlister, Samuel (Rivers 71), Cullen, Redshaw (Thomas 62)

Subs not used: Jones, Oliver, Boney, Dunne

Walsall: Etheridge, Downing, O'Connor, Taylor, Demetriou, Chambers, Mantom, Flanagan (Baxendale 80), Henry (Forde 73), Bradshaw (Cook 79), Sawyers

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Lalkovic, Preston, Morris

Attendance: 7,489 Referee: Eddie Ilderton [/breakout]

The Saddlers seemed to be taking their time to adjust to the lack of atmosphere inside the stadium.

But they came close to breaking the deadlock after a lovely move involving Rico Henry, Tom Bradshaw and Sawyers.

A clipped Henry ball into the box was expertly chested into the path of Sawyers by Bradshaw with the Saint Kitts and Nevis international then hitting a snap-shot just wide.

Smith's side were slowly but surely taking control of the game. And they took the lead mid-way through the half when Jason Demetriou cleverly slipped in Sawyers.

The 23-year-old, under pressure from a defender, then produced a cool finish to calmly slide the ball past the onrushing Kyle Letheren.

Buoyed, the Saddlers went in search of a second.

And they came a whisker away when Henry's low cross was turned goalwards by Mantom but was somehow deflected wide by a scrambling Blackpool defender.

Mantom then again went close just before half time, Bradshaw showing his strength to hold the ball before teeing up the midfielder who fired narrowly wide from 20-yards.

Blackpool looked to threaten early after the re-start with Cameron sending a dangerous header across the six-yard box that almost found Jim McAlister.

But Walsall hit-back and almost doubled their lead with a corner routine straight from the training ground.

Reece Flanagan's kick sat up perfectly for Henry who hit a spectacular, Paul Scholes like, volley from 25-yards just past the post.

But just before the hour mark, Walsall did grab a second.

Henry fizzed a low cross into six-yard box and with Bradshaw waiting for a tap-in, Blackpool's Tom Aldred turned the ball into his own net.

Smith's side were now well on top and they were hugely unfortunate not to make it three when Bradshaw smashed the ball against the post from a Sawyers cut-back.

Minutes later though and the Saddlers faithful were celebrating again.

Demetriou curled a wonderful cross to the back post which was met in the air with a text-book header from Mantom who powered the ball into the net for his third goal of the season.

Walsall were playing some outstanding football but the best was still to come with Sawyers grabbing what could turn out to be goal of the season with 15 minutes remaining.

The creative schemer picked the ball up 30-yards from goal and hit an unstoppable screamer which sailed into the top corner and beyond the outstretched arms of Lethern.

Smith's side remained in control during the final stages, Bradshaw almost making it 5-0 when his shot on the turn needed to be tipped over the bar.

Demetriou then hit a fierce half-volley wide.

But it was Walsall's day all around as they maintained their unbeaten start to deservedly top the table.