Strike duo stake claims for a place

Walsall strikers Sam Parkin and Alex Nicholls staked their claim for a first-team start after rescuing the reserves against a youthful Leicester team.

The pair struck in the second-half, as the Saddlers came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1 in their League Cup group match at Solihull Moors yesterday. They have been sidelined by the form of Darren Byfield and Troy Deeney, but were the stars against the Foxes.

Richard Taundry also impressed in the heart of the Saddlers' midfield and it was his free-kick from which Parkin equalised.

Assistant boss Martin O'Connor said: "I told them they have to keep knocking on the door with performances.

"It's no good knocking on anyone's door if you're not playing well yourself. They put a shift in, Sam's was a great goal and Alex had the confidence to put the penalty away."

But the Saddlers had to come from behind, after Elliott Chamberlain put the Foxes ahead after just three minutes following a fine flowing move.

Leicester impressed in the first-half but, after going ahead, rarely tested Rene Gilmartin. The Saddlers started to dominate after the break, with Netan Sansara and Parkin both going close.

Parkin then levelled meeting Taundry's free kick with a bullet header from 12 yards on 62 minutes.

Nicholls came close to finding a second after rounding Foxes goalkeeper Carl Pentney, but couldn't find the finish. The Saddlers were on top, with the tenacious Taundry beginning to run the show.

And they won it with five minutes remaining, when Cian Bolger handled in the area and Nicholls confidently stroked home the spot kick.

Walsall: Gilmartin, Westlake, Hickman, Partridge, Sansara; Nicholls, Taundry, O'Keefe (Geddes 72), Craddock (Paterson 59), Parkin, Grigg.