Southend United 1 Walsall 2

The winger smashed home a 25 effort three minutes from time, as the Saddlers snatched a dramatic win at Roots Hall, after a second half in which the hosts dominated.

Mal Benning's first half goal looked to have put the Saddlers in command but Ryan Leonard hammered in a free-kick midway through the second period to pull the home side deservedly level.

Saddlers keeper Richard O'Donnell then pulled off a wonder save to keep the scores level before Morris won it.

It was harsh on the hosts but Dean Smith and his team will not care.

Smith had spoken before the game of the need to end Walsall's rotten recent record in cup competitions and that was most likely behind his decision to name an unchanged team from the one which drew 1-1 at Port Vale on Saturday.

Southend boss Phil Brown made seven changes to the line-up which defeated Accrington including in goal where Paul Smith replaced regular No.1 Dan Bentley.

It was the hosts who were first to threaten and James Chambers did superbly to deny Shaquile Coulthirst a clear strike at goal after the striker had scampered on to a long headed clearance and the linesman's flag – to the Saddlers surprise – had stayed down.

The Saddlers did not test Smith before taking the lead 25 minutes in, with a goal which said plenty about their fine build-up play.

As Benning brought down a loose ball before laying it off and stealing past the backline to flick home Andy Taylor's low centre.

Tom Bradshaw then thought he had a second, when he tapped home after Smith had parried James Baxendale's deflected drive right into his path but the striker was denied a second goal in as many games by an offside flag.

That was the signal for a period of pressure from the hosts as they looked to level before the break.

O'Donnell was forced into his first save of the game when he parried Jack Payne's fierce drive and then more importantly was off his line in a flash to deflect Lee Barnard's shot wide, after a pass from substitute Conor Clifford had put the striker in the clear.

Then in first stoppage time came controversy as Barnard again got away and was brought down by Paul Downing.

Referee Gavin Ward decided the offence took place outside the box and awarded a free-kick and yellow card to the Saddlers man.

It earned him the predictable boos from the home crowd and ear-bending from Brown – who felt a penalty and red card should have been the decision.

Bradshaw again went close to doubling the visitors lead early in the second half but his shot from the right-hand side of the box whistled just past the far post.

But that was only the precursor to something of a barrage from the hosts, who should have retained parity after a series of chances in the opening period of the half.

Payne somehow fired wide from ten yards out when he really should have hit the target and drilled another low effort at O'Donnell from outside the box.

Coulthirst was guilty of the biggest miss when he fired wide after being played clear by a delightful pass from Payne.

When the equaliser did arrive, it was a stunner, as Leonard thumped a 25-yard free-kick past O'Donnell after substitute Billy Clifford had become the latest Saddler to give away a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Southend were now well on top and only a miraculous save from O'Donnell prevented them from taking the lead after Luke Prosser had deflected an Adam Thompson drive with his head.

Coulthirst hit wide, before Clifford almost restored the Saddlers advantage against the run of play when his shot deflected off the foot of a defender. But Smith was there to tip it round the post.

There was nothing the keeper could do about the winner when, with extra-time looming, Morris picked the ball up 25 yards out and lashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.