Brentford 0 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

A hugely impressive Walsall made it through to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a famous victory over Dean Smith's Brentford.

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A fantastic individual goal from midfielder Sam Mantom saw the Saddlers make it a hat-trick of wins against Championship sides.

They had already dispatched of Nottingham Forest and Brighton in the Capital One Cup this season.

But it is this victory that will be the sweetest of all for Walsall fans, with Smith having left the Banks's to take over the reins at Griffin Park just six weeks ago.

The 44-year-old endured a mixed reception from the travelling supporters who continued to party long after the final whistle having watched their team secure a deserved victory.

The result means Walsall have made it past the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in 10 years.

In naming his starting line-up, O'Driscoll made four changes to the team that slipped to the disappointing 3-0 defeat against Rochdale.

Switching to a midfield diamond formation, Liam Kinsella, Rico Henry, Sam Mantom and Tom Bradshaw were all recalled.

It meant Anthony Forde, Jordan Cook and Andy Taylor had to make do with a place on the bench with Jason Demetriou ruled out with a minor injury.

For Smith's Brentford, former Walsall youth player Ryan Woods - a summer signing from Shrewsbury – was named in midfield.

Having started sluggishly against Rochdale, the Saddlers began the game on the front foot with Romaine Sawyers, George Evans and Mantom all seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages.

But Brentford were proving equally comfortable in possession and they created the game's first real chance on 15 minutes.

A deep Woods free-kick was headed back into the danger area towards Philipp Hofmann.

But the striker got his timing all wrong and connected only with fresh air as he aimed to fire home a half-volley from 12-yards.

With Milan Lalkovic and Henry combing well down the left, Walsall hit back with Mantom firing wide after some good build-up involving Sawyers and Bradshaw.

At the other end, a slick passing move ended with Josh McEachran looking to play in Sergi Canos, but Henry was alert to the danger and nipped with a crucial interception.

Both sides were moving the ball well in what was proving an even affair, but as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark Walsall took the lead with a wonderful goal from Mantom.

The 23-year-old collected the ball in midfield and drove towards the edge of the area before curling a delicious strike into the bottom corner from 20-yards.

It was a tremendous finish from the box-to-box midfielder who still had an awful lot to do after initially collecting Evans' pass.

The goal sparked thunderous chants of 'Deano, what's the score?' from the 1,600 strong Saddlers faithful, who then saw Hofmann head over a Jake Bidwell cross as the home side looked for a quick response.

It was Walsall though who had the wind in their sails and they almost doubled their advantage just before the break when Lalkovic hit a dipping, curling strike that flew inches past the upright.

Smith made his first change at the break, bring on dangerman Alan Judge for McEachran.

But it was the Saddlers who threatened first after the re-start with Sawyers' low cross being expertly dummied by Bradshaw into the path of Lalkovic who then scuffed wide.

The Bees responded with Judge collecting the ball in the box and hitting a stinging left footed drive which was beaten away by Etheridge at his near post.

Undeterred, the Saddlers hit back with Lalkovic's free-kick headed only far as Mantom who connected crisply but hit his strike straight at David Button.

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With the rain lashing down in West London, the cup clash had suddenly become end-to-end.

And Etheridge was forced into an excellent point-blank save when Hofmann controlled the ball on his chest before hitting a volley from close range.

Walsall came close to doubling their advantage shortly past the hour when Mantom squared to Sawyers on the right after some schoolboy defending from the hosts.

In acres of the space, the St Kitts and Nevis international carried the ball to the edge of the box but then hit a rasping drive that flew fractionally over the bar.

With the surface glistening wet, Brentford almost levelled when Henry's slip allowed Judge to gallop into the box.

The former Blackburn man looked to find the far corner but the flying Etheridge got down brilliantly to push the ball around the post.

From the resultant corner, an unmarked Harlee Dean headed wide.

O'Driscoll made a double change with 15 minutes remaining - Taylor and Forde coming on for Henry and Lalkovic.

But it was the Bees who now had the momentum and they had two glorious chances to pull level in the space of a minute.

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First, Marco Djuricin was presented with a clear site of goal when Dean dummied Woods' cross but the substitute fired wide from 12-yards.

Then Canos hit a strike from the edge of the box that took a deflection forcing Etheridge into another outstanding one-handed save.

Smith's side were throwing everything forward but they almost fell further behind when Bradshaw met Kinsella's corner but the strikers glancing header was straight at the goalkeeper.

O'Driscoll responded with Bradshaw making way for Morris.

And it was the Saddlers who then created two quick-fire chances to put the game to bed.

A swift break saw Sawyers find Evans on the edge the box and the Manchester City loanne hit a rapsing drive with Button brilliantly tipped over the bar.

From the resultant corner, the Walsall came even closer, with Morris eventually crossing to the back post where James O'Connor powered a header against the post.

Walsall then saw out four minutes of stoppage time to secure a victory that will live long in the memory.