Walsall 0 Millwall 3 - Report and pictures

A second-half brace from striker Lee Gregory, as well as a debut goal from Mahlon Romeo, settled matters on a cold and windy afternoon.

Sean O'Driscoll's Saddlers dominated the first half but couldn't turn possession into goals with Anthony Forde coming closest when he rattled the crossbar.

But, with the wind to their advantage in the second-half, the Lions took advantage with three excellent goals.

The result leaves the Saddlers second in League One, but four points behind leaders Burton Albion who beat Bradford.

Before kick-off, Walsall were rocked by the news that stand-in goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray had picked up a shoulder injury in training.

With number one Neil Etheridge also ruled out with a cut knee, it meant 21-year-old Liam Roberts made his senior debut between the sticks.

The only other change from Tuesday's victory at Doncaster saw Rico Henry return at left wing ahead of Milan Lalkovic as O'Driscoll stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Millwall also handed a debut to a promising youngster with Romeo – the son of Soul II Soul musician Jazzie B ­– starting at right-back.

Keen to test Walsall's rookie custodian early, the visitors registered the first shot on goal when Ed Upson tried his luck with an audacious chip from 25-yards.

But Roberts proved himself equal to the challenge and produced a driving one handed stop to push the ball away.

O'Driscoll's men responded with Jason Demetriou galloping to the byline and sending in a dangerous cross which was hacked clear with Henry loitering.

Walsall looked in control and they almost took the lead in the 15th minute, when Anthony Forde's free-kick caught the wind and sailed towards the top corner.

Fortunately for Millwall, goalkeeper Jordan Archer was alert to the effort and did well to push the ball for a corner.

Harris' men were having to endure heavy pressure with Sam Mantom, Forde and Henry lively.

But, despite winning second balls an enjoying a lot of possession around the Millwall box, the Saddlers had failed to truly test Archer as the clock ticked past the half hour mark.

They were soon indebted to new-boy Roberts who was suddenly called into action and responded by producing three excellent saves in the space of a few minutes.

First, the goalkeeper expertly blocked an arrowed Romeo drive from eight-yards after the defender had latched on to Jed Wallace's flick on.

Then Lee Gregory darted into the box only see his effort thwarted by the keeper who then got back up to his feet to block a follow-up strike from Upson.

It was the Saddlers though who were the better team and they came a whisker away from the breaking the deadlock just a minute before the break.

Demetriou went on another marauding run before cutting the ball back to Forde on the edge of the area.

The Irishman took a touch to steady himself before unleashing a wonderful strike which had Archer beaten but cannoned off the crossbar.

O'Driscoll's men continued on the front foot at the start of the second-half and rattled the woodwork again inside the first two minutes.

Romaine Sawyers spread the play to Henry, whose mis-hit cross looped over the goalkeeper and against the far post with Forde then seeing a follow-up strike well blocked.

The Saddlers hopes were dealt a blow in the 50th minute when top scorer Tom Bradshaw was forced to make way through injury. Jordan Cook came on as his replacement.

Yet O'Driscoll's side remained comfortably on top and again came close to taking the lead on the hour mark.

Mantom intelligently moved the ball wide to Henry who sent in a delicious cross. But the ball was met by a combination of both Cook and Demetriou with Archer able gather.

It was a miss that proved to be costly, with Millwall going up the other end and taking the lead against the run of play.

Wolves loanee Jed Wallace sent in a wonderful inviting cross from the right that was begging to be tapped home.

Millwall top scorer Gregory made no mistake, firing past Roberts from six-yards to give the goalkeeper no chance.

Walsall responded immediately with Sawyers chesting down a Demetriou cross and then firing at goal, but the midfielder's effort was well-blocked by Romeo.

The Millwall debutant was enjoying a fine game and in the 70th minute things got even better for him when he doubled his side's advantage.

A galloping run saw the youngster burst into the box and he then kept his composure to arrow a fine strike into the far corner.

O'Driscoll responded by switching Kieron Morris and Lalkovic for Adam Chambers and Andy Taylor. But, with a little over 10 minutes to play, Millwall made it 3-0.

Poor defending resulted in a Shaun Williams long ball playing Gregory in on goal and the striker fired past Roberts.

Once again Walsall responded with Morris' cross finding Lalkovic eight yards out, but his strike was well blocked by Archer.

While the Saddlers continued to huff and puff for the reaming 10 minutes, they couldn't find a way through the resolute Millwall defence.