Accrington Stanley 2 Walsall 1 - analysis
Walsall's aversion to the League Cup continued last night as they made their final bow at the first curtain.
Accrington Stanley now join Darlington, Swansea, Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday as sides who have halted the Saddlers' Carling Cup progress in the first round in recent seasons.
A 1-0 success at Plymouth in 2006 is the only beacon of light in the last five years of a cup which has taken a dislike to the club from the Banks's.
Paul Mullin's 90th minute winner – after he was given the freedom of the box – ended hopes of a cup run which were already thin following Rhys Weston's first half dismissal.
Weston, captain for the night, was dismissed after 35 minutes after fouls on John Miles and Phil Edwards as the Saddlers surrendered their lead.
Alex Nicholls' classy ninth minute volley should have set Chris Hutchings' side on route to a comfortable victory against a distinctly average League Two side.
Instead, Robert Grant equalised after 52 minutes and the Saddlers were left second best for most of the second half.
The game marked a return to the inconsistency which blighted Walsall last season. They had performed so admirably at Brighton on Saturday but the quality and nous deserted them when they needed them most.
Stephen Roberts made his first start since December following persistent knee and back injuries as there was no Mark Hughes, the skipper picking up a strain in training on Monday.
Peter Till was another notable absentee with the winger nursing a sore foot but both injury victims should return for the visit of Southend on Saturday.
Accrington started with purpose and should have taken the lead inside the first five minutes.
Jimmy Ryan found enough space on the right to cross for Billy Kee and the striker escaped the attentions of Roberts and Manny Smith but could only direct his diving header down into the ground and over.
It was a warning for the Saddlers with the conditions ripe for an upset but the visitors took the lead after nine minutes.
They won a free-kick on the left and Jamie Vincent's superb delivery saw Nicholls left unmarked to direct a classy volley past Alan Martin.
They Saddlers had found their stride, the goal visibly lifting their confidence, but switched off after 15 minutes and relied on Dwayne Mattis' superb block to deny Kee.
Weston picked up his first booking of the night with a crude challenge from behind on Miles but, after 35 minutes, the Saddlers were reduced to 10 men when he picked up his second yellow. The right back launched into a 50-50 challenge with Edwards, who backed out, and the Saddlers captain took the ball but sliced the Stanley defender in two.
Stanley drew level seven minutes after the restart.
Gilmartin saved from Joyce but the danger wasn't cleared and Grant – on the pitch for just two minutes – lashed the ball in from 12 yards.
Walsall were losing the midfield battle as the hosts' numerical advantage began to tell.
And, with seconds remaining, Sean McConville was given too much time on the left and his swirling cross found Mullin between Smith and Roberts to plant a header past Gilmartin.
By Nick Mashiter.
