Analysis of Walsall 0 Wolves 4

It started out as Walsall versus Wolves but finished up as a shoot-out between Molineux's young guns and their older rivals.

The Saddlers were out-gunned by two rampant Wolves sides as the Premier League outfit ruthlessly exposed the two-division gap between the teams.

Manager Mick McCarthy warned afterwards anything less than their best wouldn't be good enough, but his charges had already anticipated his words.

His youthful starting line-up issued a clear statement of intent as for 75 minutes they bossed their League One opponents, scoring four goals in the process.

The Saddlers, evidently ring-rusty, showed flashes of what they are capable of but it was Wolves who stamped their Premier League authority on a competitive clash.

There's no such thing as a friendly local derby and Wolves were ruthless in front of goal as a Sam Vokes double, plus strikes from Ashley Hemmings and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, sealed a comprehensive victory.

Ebanks-Blake was the main benefactor, on a night his performance ensured he won't be forgotten.

The striker bagged the visitors' fourth in a performance of power to drag himself back into the consciousness of Wolves fans, having gone from propelling Wolves to Championship glory to facing a double threat to his Molineux career.

But the arrival of £7million Steven Fletcher and the presence of £6.5million Kevin Doyle has reignited the fire in the belly of the former Manchester United trainee.

The striker came under renewed pressure after an indifferent Premier League campaign, but his display last night suggested he has the bit between his teeth and is ready to fight his multi-million pound rivals all the way.

Ebanks-Blake dropped deep, ran the channels and showed the traits of a goal poacher who has reinvented himself.

But while it was Wolves' night, the Saddlers' contribution shouldn't be overlooked. The visitors' second, and Vokes' first, came against the run of play after Walsall had fought their way back into the game.

Little should be read into the result but Walsall can take many positives from the clash - Troy Deeney's performance for one.

In the absence of a true targetman, last season's 14-goal top scorer provided enough evidence to suggest he can lead the line with real vigour.

Wolves, fresh from their 3-0 weekend win at Bohemians, fielded a shadow side with goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Richard Stearman, Elokobi, Ebanks-Blake and Vokes all starting. Scott Malone and Danny Batth were also handed their first senior starts, after being farmed out on loan last season.

The Saddlers started summer signings Jonny Brain, Aaron Lescott and Paul Marshall with fellow new-boys Oliver Lancashire and David Bevan restricted to a substitute brief.

Walsall also included former Bolton left-back Chris Stokes in the squad, as boss Chris Hutchings looks to increase his defensive options.

The manager had already insisted the game was no more than a useful exercise, a way of rediscovering the routine, lining up in an attacking 4-3-3 in a bold statement of intent.

But they were quickly on the backfoot, the visitors taking the lead after 11 minutes when Hemmings met Greg Halford's deep cross with a powerful header.

The Saddlers were forced into hopeful punts at Deeney, who was causing Elokobi problems, and the striker almost nipped in on Steve Jones' cross before Alex Nicholls planted a header wide on 32 minutes.

But, despite the Saddlers' improvement, they fell further behind on 37 minutes when Malone pounced on some lax defending to feed Vokes who converted at the near post.

It was harsh on the hosts, but demonstrated the visitors' cutting edge and Vokes grabbed his second five minutes later.

Ebanks-Blake continued to be a threat and finally got the goal he deserved on 65 minutes, out-muscling debutant Lancashire on the Wolves right before drilling past Brain.

By Nick Mashiter