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Walsall 1 Blackburn 2 - Report and pictures

Walsall’s unbeaten run in League One came to an end after they slipped to an unfortunate 2-1 loss at home to title chasing Blackburn.

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A brace from striker Danny Graham put Rovers in control in an opening 45 minutes they dominated.

But the Saddlers gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half-time with Jack Fitzwater netting his first goal for the club.

After the interval though, Jon Whitney’s side emerged transformed with Walsall well on top as they went in search of an equaliser.

But while Julien Ngoy, man of the match George Dobson and Erhun Oztumer all went close, Rovers held on to deny the hosts a deserved point.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney made one change to the team that extended Walsall’s unbeaten run to four matches by drawing at Gillingham.

With Amadou Bakayoko unwell, Justin Shaibu was restored up front for what was his second straight start at home.

It meant the Saddlers lined-up in a 4-4-1-1 system with Erhun Oztumer operating behind Shaibu and Joe Edwards and Kieron Morris the wide men.

Blackburn, who were without the influential Bradley Dack through illness, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system that saw Danny Graham operate as the lone frontman.

In what was a frantic first few minutes, both teams created decent chances to open the scoring. The first saw Edwards win a tussle in the box with Ryan Nyambe before firing wide.

Then at the other end, a crisp Blackburn move saw the ball worked to Elliott Bennett on the right but his low drive was expertly blocked by a diving George Dobson.

Following the bright opening, the game began to settle down with top of the table Rovers dominating possession.

And they took the lead in the 16th minute when Adam Armstrong’s cross bobbled around the Saddlers box before being smashed in from close range by Graham.

Walsall response was instant with Nicky Devlin hitting the byline and sending in a cross that found its way through to George Dobson.

The midfielder then arrowed a drive towards the bottom corner but Darragh Lenihan was perfectly placed to hack clear just in front of his own goal line.

That chance aside though, Rovers were looking comfortable. And they doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark following a dangerous Bennett cross.

The delivery was knocked back across goal by Jack Payne and there waiting was Graham who nodded in for his 15th of the campaign.

Blackburn continued on the front foot for majority of the half with Mowbray’s side twice coming close to grabbing a third.

Graham thought he had netted a hat-trick when he flicked a Bennett cross inches past the post.

A brilliant Payne through ball then sent Armstrong through on goal. But after bursting into the box the striker saw a fierce drive cannon against the crossbar.

Despite Rovers dominance, Walsall managed to grab a lifeline on the stroke of half-time after forcing a corner.

Dobson’s delivery was fired back across goal by Edwards. And the ball then fell kindly for Fitzwater who fired into the roof of the net from close range.

Lifted by the goal, the Saddlers started the second half on the front foot with Edwards cutting off the left flank before seeing a shot held by David Raya.

The game was proving much more of a contest as the clock ticked past the hour mark with Walsall enjoying more possession and winning more second balls.

And they created two excellent chances to pull level in quick succession.

First, Erhun Oztumer saw a free-kick from 20-yards tipped over the bar by Raya after Adam Chambers had been brought down.

Dobson then split the visitors with a brilliant through ball to send substitute Julien Ngoy through on goal.

But just as the striker looked set to level the score, Raya burst off his line to brilliantly block at his feet.

Suddenly, the Saddlers were rampant with Whitney’s men seemingly first to every ball in match they had turned on its head.

But despite showing loads of endeavour and spirit in the closing stages, they were unable to find the goal that would have seen them to a deserved point.

Key moments

2 Edwards dispossesses Nyambe before firing wide of the near post.

3 Jack Payne’s plays in Elliott Bennett, whose powerful drive is blocked by a sliding George Dobson.

17 Goal Blackburn. Adam Armstrong’s cross is fired in by Danny Graham from close range.

19 Nicky Devlin’s cross finds Dobson but his striker is hacked away by Darragh Lenihan from just in front of his own goal line.

26 Goal Blackburn. Bennett's cross is headed down by Payne for Graham to nod home.

33 Bennett's right-wing cross is volleyed wide by Graham at the near post.

37 Armstrong latches onto Payne's excellent lofted pass and drills an angled drive against the bar.

45 Goal Walsall. From Dobson's corner, Edwards hooks the ball back in allowing Jack Fitzwater to volley into the roof of the net.

52 Edwards cuts inside off the left flank before drilling a strike which David Raya claims.

54 Adam Chambers sends Devlin away down the right. His cross is hooked towards goal by Dobson but Shaibu just can't latch on ahead of Raya.

68 Dominic Samuel heads into the ground and over following a left-wing cross.

75 Erhun Oztumer’s free-kick from 20-yards is tipped over by Raya.

76 Dobson slips in Julien Ngoy, but the onrushing Raya smothers his effort.

83 Lenihan's header from Mulgrew's free-kick is easily claimed by Roberts.

Teams

Walsall: L Roberts, Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Chambers, Dobson, Edwards (Kouhyar 66), Morris, Oztumer, Shaibu (Ngoy 64).

Subs not used: Gillespie; Kinsella, K.Roberts, Cuvelier, Flanagan.

Blackburn: Raya, Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams, Evans (Antonsson 66), Smallwood, Bennett, Payne (Bell 80), Armstrong, Graham (Samuel 61).

Subs not used: Leutwiler, Caddis, Downing, Nuttall.