Walsall 3 Peterborough United 0 - Report and pictures

Goals from Andy Cook, Josh Gordon and a Daniel Laffery own-goal saw the Saddlers secure a thumping 3-0 win at the Banks’s Stadium.

Martin O’Connor’s side entered the clash knowing they would be relegated if they lost.

But they put in their best performance in months with the display full of heart, desire and, most importantly, quality.

Cook gave them the lead in the first-half with Lafferty then turning a cross into his own net after excellent work from Gordon just before the hour mark.

The former Leicester man then wrapped up the points with a wonderful finish in the 74th minute.

The result means Walsall now go to Shrewsbury next weekend sitting a point from safety.

But they will need to better the results of both Plymouth and Southend who face Scunthorpe and Sunderland respectively.

ANALYSIS

O’Connor sprung a surprise when naming his starting line-up with the caretaker boss opting to revert back to the 3-5-2 formation first seen at Accrington Stanley.

It saw Scott Laird, Connor Johnson and Dan Scarr deployed in a back three with Nicky Devlin and Luke Leahy at wing-back. Up front, Josh Gordon partnered Andy Cook.

Peterborough lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with George Cooper operating behind Matt Godden in the number 10 role. Marcus Maddison and Siriki Dembele were on the wings.

In what proved to be an even and keenly contested opening 20 minutes, the two teams largely cancelled each other out with the only efforts on goal coming from distance.

For Posh, Maddison hit a dipping and swerving strike from 25-yards which a diving Chris Dunn Parried away.

While for Walsall, Gordon and Joe Edwads both saw efforts from just outside the box sail the wrong side of the post.

It wasn’t until midway through the half that either side created a clear goalscoring opportunity.

But when it did arrive, it was the Saddlers who should have got themselves in front.

After bombing down the left wing, Leahy sent in a dangerous low cross.

And the delivery was on a plate for Gordon who raced past of his marker before sweeping a strike wide from eight-yards.

Peterborough were struggling to break Walsall down with O’Connor’s men playing so much better than they had over the past few weeks.

And they threatened once again when Cook darted into the box before sending in a cross which Edwards was just unable to connect with.

In added on time though, the Saddlers got the goal their first-half performance deserved.

After an extended spell of possession, Laird delivered a inch-perfect cross to the back post with Cook on hand to nod the ball into the corner from close range.

The game again became cagey in the opening stages of the second half before an incredible 60 seconds saw the momentum truly swing in Walsall’s favour.

A through-ball saw Godden played through one-on-one with Scarr racing back to chase down the striker.

The former Stourbridge man knew he had to time his challenge to perfection. But he did and brilliantly won the ball to stop what would likely have been a Posh equaliser.

And Walsall went on to double their lead just seconds later after Gordon did incredibly well to battle and fight is way to the byline.

Once there the former Leicester man rolled a cross right in front of the goal line with Lafferty turning the ball into his own net from close range.

With a two-goal lead the Saddlers became rampant with keeper Aaron Chapman punching a cross just ahead of Cook. Liam Kinsella then fired wide from the edge of the box.

But the in the 74th minute they wrapped up the points once and for all with another brilliantly worked goal.

It was Cook who made it with the former Tranmere man battling brilliantly down the right before sending in cross.

And the delivery was met by Gorodn who produced an exquisite first-time finish to power the ball past Chapman and into the net.

Peterborough - who had been completely outplayed - created very little in response.

Ivan Toney sent a free-kick into the side netting from just outside the box.

But this was Walsall’s day with the Saddlers putting in their best display in months to comfortably beat a Posh side who entered the game still with a chance of making the play-offs.

TEAMS

Walsall: Dunn, Devlin, Scarr (Guthrie 62), Johnson, Laird, Edwards (Osbourne 81), Kinsella, Dobson, Leahy, Cook (Oteh 90), Gordon.

Subs not used: Roberts, Ismail, Fitzwater, Norman.

Peterborough: Chapman, Naismith, Knight, Bennett, Lafferty (Tomlin 65), Woodyard, Reed, Maddison, Cooper (Toney 23), Dembele (Ward 59), Godden.

Subs not used: O’Malley, White, Cooke, Stevens.