Express & Star

Walsall 2 Burton 0 - Report and pictures

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Walsall returned to the top of League One with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over Burton Albion at the Banks's Stadium.

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A superb first-half strike from Liam Kinsella and a stoppage time penalty from Tom Bradshaw secured the points in front of 6,812 fans.

The result means Dean Smith's side replace the Brewers at the top of the table, following a display with saw outstanding performances throughout the side.

With Neil Etheridge and Jason Demetriou away on international duty, boss Smith made four changes from the side that secured a 0-0 draw at Wigan.

Craig MacGillivray took Etheridge's place in goal with Kinsella brought in at right wing-back as the Saddlers lined up in a 3-5-2 system.

Youngsters Reece Flanagan and Rico Henry were also recalled to the starting line-up, at the expense of Milan Lalkovic and Kieron Morris who were named on the bench.

For Hasselbaink's Burton, five-goal top-scorer Stuart Beavon started up front as a lone striker.

Liam Kinsella celebrates going top of the table.

As expected, the game started in a cagey manner with both teams guilty of sloppy passing as they looked to find their feet.

But it was the Saddlers who threatened first, when an outrageous flick from Romaine Sawyers sent Henry galloping away down the left flank.

The 18-year-old then delivered a dangerous low cross, which was expertly cleared by Anthony O'Connor at the near post.

Both teams began the day with the best defensive records in the division but it was only Walsall who were showing any attacking intent as the clock approached the 20 minute mark.

After playing keep-ball around the Albion box, Sam Mantom looked to slip in Flanagan with a clever flick, but goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin raced off his line to smoother at the midfielder's feet.

Buoyed, the Saddlers continued to press with Sawyers then coming a whisker.

Instant control from Tom Bradshaw allowed the Saint Kitts & Nevis international to the take the ball to the edge of the box where he looked to find the bottom corner with a rasping drive.

But Brewers custodian McLaughlin was equal to the effort and produced a brilliant diving save to push the ball around the post.

Walsall were now attacking at will and they again came close to breaking the deadlock when Henry raced down the left-wing and cut the ball back for Mantom who side-footed wide.

Minutes later though and the Smith's side deservedly got their noses in front. Brilliant combination play from Henry and Sawyers eventually saw the ball worked wide right to Kinsella.

The youngster then showed bundles of composure to fire an unstoppable drive into the bottom left corner for his first senior goal.

Burton fired a warning just before the break with Mark Duffy tricking his way into the box and curling just wide.

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But the half belonged to the Saddlers, with Smith then having a word with referee Tim Robinson after he harshly booked Henry late-on for a soft challenge on Lucas Akins.

With Hasselbaink ringing in their ears, Burton came flying out of the traps at the start of the second period and almost pulled level within five minutes.

A corner was met with a fierce header by John Mousinho and looked destined for the top corner, but Mantom did brilliantly to head the ball against his own crossbar before Andy Taylor hacked clear.

The Saddlers responded, with Mantom collecting the ball on the edge of the box and firing just wide.

As in the first-half, chances were proving few and far between but Beavon looked to force the issue just past the hour mark when he shot straight at MacGillivray from distance.

Needing to add more impetus to his side, Hasselbaink made two quick-fire substitutions with Akins and Duffy making way for Jerome Binnon-Williams and Timmy Thiele.

Smith then responded with Flanagan replaced by Jordan Cook, in a change which saw the outstanding Sawyers moved into midfield.

With 10 minutes remaining, the Brewers began to press as they frantically went in seach for an equaliser.

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And they came close, when Binnon-Williams brilliantly tricked his way into the box and found Beavon whose shot was well blocked by James O'Connor.

But, with just over five minutes remaining, Walsall should have put the game to bed. A swift counter attack saw the Saddlers break three on one, with Bradshaw playing in Mantom.

The midfielder carried the ball into the box but his low drive was deflected wide. Burton immediately hit-back and should have pulled level with just five minutes remaining.

A low ball into the box was turned goalwards by Thiele but MacGillivray got down brilliantly to block with his legs and keep his side ahead.

And with the fourth official indicating added time, the Saddlers put the game to bed when Sawyers won a penalty after Mousinho handled his flick in the box.

Bradshaw stepped up to ruthlessly convert and send his side back to the top of the table.