Walsall 2-3 Derby County: Mat Sadler's side fall to first pre-season defeat
Walsall fell to their first defeat of pre-season after Championship side Derby County twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Bescot.
Mat Sadler's men led twice in the first half through goals by Vincent Harper, after Kayden Jackson had briefly hauled Derby level.
Corey Blackett-Taylor equalised from the spot just past the hour-mark, before Charles Ebuka netted the winner in the 77th minute.
Priestley Farquharson made his Bescot return after missing the majority of last season with a thigh injury, while Derby loanee Dan Cox made his home bow against his parent club.
The hosts made an ideal start when Harper provided the breakthrough with a deft header inside 11 minutes.
Courtney Clarke deceived his marker with an elegant flick and Walsall took the resulting throw quickly to catch Derby off guard.
Rico Browne swung a sumptuous cross towards the back post and Harper was left completely unmarked to guide his header across Derby goalkeeper Josh Vickers and into the far top corner.
It set the tone for a strong first half performance by Browne who prevented Rams striker Jackson from streaking clear with an excellent last-ditch challenge during the opening 60 seconds.
Aaron Pressley also had an early sight of goal prior to Walsall's opener when his effort from distance sailed wide of the target.
Walsall endured a nervy end to the first half and paid the price when Jackson got Derby back on level terms six minutes before the interval with a precise finish into the left-hand bottom corner.
Just as it seemed they were beginning to wobble, Stuttle restored the Saddlers' lead on the cusp of half-time with his maiden strike for the club.
Danny Batth dwelled on the ball for a split-second when Stuttle pounced to pickpocket him and apply a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Jellis had a prime opportunity to double Walsall's advantage after the restart from Clarke's low feed but Vickers stretched to keep out his scuffed close-range finish.
Clarke came close again for Walsall after Jellis swept the ball into his path but Vickers plunged to his left to flick his low drive behind.
Derby equalised just past the hour-mark when Blackett-Taylor was tripped by Clarke inside the box and converted the resulting spot-kick.
The visitors made 10 changes for the final 20 minutes and the youngsters piled on the pressure in the latter stages to snatch victory.
Lennon Wheeldon's inviting cross was knocked down into the six-yard box and Ebuka pounced to convert from a matter of yards.
Walsall also shuffled their pack with new signing Aden Flint coming on at half-time and trialist Romaine Sawyers starring for the latter stages.
Next, Walsall travel to the New Lawn to face National League outfit Forest Green Rovers in their final pre-season game.
Teams
Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts (Hornby 46); Browne (Burke 71), Farquharson (Flint 46), Cox (Weir 63); Comley (Sawyers - Trialist 71); Clarke (Barrett 71), Jellis (Adomah 63), Lakin (Maher 71), Harper (Hancock 71); Pressley (Amantchi 63), Stuttle (Gordon 46).
Not used: None
Derby County: Vickers (O'Donnell 70), Forsyth (Elder 70), Batth (Rooney 70), Clarke (K Robinson 70), Roofe (Ebuka 46), Gordon (Turley 70), Thompson (Hawkins 70), Goudmijn (D Robinson 70), Jackson (Perry 70), Blackett-Taylor (Gill 70), Adams (Wheeldon 70).
Not used:
Attendance: 2,789 (1,321)
Referee:
