Fleetwood 2 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

[gallery] Walsall suffered away day blues as they fell to a 2-1 loss to Fleetwood at Highbury Stadium, writes Joe Masi.

Analysis

Goals either side of half-time from Ashley Hunter and Bobby Grant saw the Cod Army race into a 2-0 lead on the Fylde Coast.

George Dobson netted his first career goal after the interval to bring Walsall back into the game.

But Jon Whitney's side lacked the creativity to then go on and find an equaliser with the result seeing them drop to 17^th in League One.

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney made one change from the team that battled its way to victory at Sheffield United.

After Kieron Morris suffered a reoccurrence of his ankle injury, Kevin Toner was brought back into the side at centre-half in a move that saw Scott Laird switched to left wing-back.

It meant both teams lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Fleetwood partnering eight-goal top scorer David Ball with Ashley Hunter up front.

In what was a frantic and entertaining opening 20 minutes, both teams came flying out the blocks and created good chances to break the deadlock.

It was the Saddlers who threated first, with Joe Edwards bursting to the byline and cutting the ball back to Erhun Oztumer who saw a rasping shot blocked by Nathan Pond from point-blank range.

At the other end, Amari'i Bell latched onto Bobby Grant's short corner and hit a fierce drive from the edge of the box which a diving Neil Etheridge spectacularly tipped around the post.

Both teams were playing with a high intensity and at a good tempo. But it was the hosts who looked the more dangerous and they threatened once again when Cian Bolger glanced a header inches wide from a corner.

Fleetwood continued in the ascendancy as the clock ticked towards half-time, with the game having become more scrappy.

And they took the lead in the 42^nd minute when Edwards was caught in possession after receiving the ball under pressure from Toner.

That pass allowed Hunter to nip in with the striker darting at goal before curling home an unstoppable strike from 20-yards.

Walsall threated first after the interval with a wonderful lofted pass from Oztumer allowing Ama Bakayoko to get in behind the Fleetwood defence.

The forward looked to brush off a challenge from Nathan Pond and got his shot away, but the defender got back to bravely throw himself in front of the ball and keep his side ahead.

Fleetwood's response was immediate with the Cod Army going up the end and Ball delivering a cross which Matt Preston had to head away from under his own crossbar.

Rosler's side then had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 when an unmarked Ball collected the ball in the box but fired straight at Etheridge from 10-yards.

But in the 67^th minute they did double their advantage.

Preston's pass into midfield went straight to a Fleetwood man with the ball then worked wide to Hunter who saw a cross clawed away by Etheridge.

But the ball fell kindly for Grant on the edge of the box with the former Shrewsbury man drilling his strike though a crowd of bodies and into the net.

Whitney responded by switching Simeon Jackson for Toner as the Saddlers moved to a midfield diamond formation.

It was Rosler's side who were still on top though and they almost made it three when Ball hit a fierce strike from 20-yards which whistled past the post.

Minutes later though and Walsall got themselves back into the game. Out of nowhere, Dobson tried his luck from 25-yards with the effort deceiving Alex Cairns and flying into the middle of the net.

Both teams then went on the offensive as Walsall tried to grab an equaliser and Fleetwood looked to put the game to bed.

The home side almost grabbed a third with the the fourth official indicating four minutes of stoppage time.

Substitute Chris Long burst through on goal only to see his low strike saved by Etheridge when he should have done better.

Kyle Dempsey was then stretchered off with what looked like is a serious injury to his leg.

And while the Saddlers pumped lots of hopeful balls forward in the closing minutes, they were unable to create anything of note as they looked to claw their way back into the game.

Key moments

4 Good hold up play from Ama Bakayoko allows Joe Edwards to burst to the byline. His cut-back is then met by Erhun Oztumer but the striker's fierce drive is blocked by Nathan Pond from point-blank range.

7 Fleetwood break quickly from a Walsall corner with Ashley Hunter galloping away before delivering a low cross which Neil Etheridge gathers.

20 Amari'I Bell's fizzing drive from George Glendon's short corner is pushed behind by Etheridge at his near post.

22 Cian Bolger rises highest from a corner but his glancing header sails wide.

34 The ball breaks nicely for Oztumer in the box. He tries to chip Alex Cairns but it's a poor effort and easy for the keeper.

42 Goal Fleetwood. A poor pass from Kevin Toner puts Edwards under pressure with Ashley Hunter robbing possession before curling home an unstoppable strike from 20-yards.

47 Oztumer's lofted ball allows Ama Bakayoko to get in behind the Fleetwood defence. The forward brushes off a challenge from Nathan Pond to get his shot away but the defender gets back to block.

55 Hunter crossed for an unmarked Ball who fires straight at Etheridge from 10-yards when he should score.

67 Goal Fleetwood. Fleetwood latch onto a poor pass and work the ball wide to Hunter who sees a cross clawed away by Etheridge. But it falls kindly for Grant who fires into the net from the corner of the box.

75 Ball goes close with a firm right-footed effort from 20 yards which goes inches wide.

77 Goal Walsall. George Dobson's well-struck 25-yard drive deceives Alex Cairns and flies into the net.

89 Etheridge makes a good save after Chris Long races in on goal.