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Bristol Rovers 0 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

A stoppage time goal from Kieron Morris saw Walsall return to winning ways in League One with a deserved win at Bristol Rovers.

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In what was incredible final few minutes, Sam Matthews saw a free-kick tipped onto the post by Liam Roberts for the hosts.

But Walsall went up the other end and in the fourth minute of stoppage time Morris fired in to earn the Saddlers all three points.

While Walsall left it late, the victory was no more than Dean Keates side deserved with Luke Leahy seeing a goal controversially ruled out for offside.

Morgan Ferrier and Andy Cook also had good chances. But in the end it was Morris who came to the result with the result moving the Saddlers back up to fifth in the League One table.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Keates made one enforced change from the team that played out a goalless draw with Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

After suffering a concussion in that game, Isaiah Osbourne missed out with Liam Kinsella taking his place in central midfield.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 4-4-2 formation with Andy Cook partnering Morgan Ferrier in attack while Josh Ginnelly and Zeli Ismail were on the wings.

Rovers, under the guidance of boss Darrell Clake, also lined up in a 4-4-2 system with Tom Nichols partnering Gavin Reilly in attack.

Despite Rovers kicking off, it was Walsall who had a glorious chance to open the scoring just 18 seconds into the game.

A long-ball forward was flicked on by Cook with Ferrier doing well to race past his marker and into the box.

But, on the angle, the striker then saw a low drive blocked by the legs of Jack Bonham when he should have done better.

Both teams started the game well with some good football being played.

It was the Saddlers who were looking the more dangerous though and they saw a goal controversially ruled out in the eighth minute.

After a George Dobson free-kick caused havoc in the box, Luke Leahy nodded in from close range.

But while the linesman saw nothing wrong, referee Lee Swabey deemed there to be an infringement and the goal was ruled out - with Leahy then booked for his protests.

Rovers showed they carried attacking a threat midway through the half with Cook doing well to head clear a dangerous Chris Lines free-kick.

Reilly then darted into the box before seeing a strike comfortably claimed by Liam Roberts.

But it was Walsall who were on top with Keates’ men whipping in a number of dangerous corners but with keeper Bonham being given a lot of protection by the referee.

It seemed as though the Saddlers couldn’t get a decision in the box with Cook and Jon Guthrie furious that their shirts were constantly being pulled.

Undeterred, the Saddlers continued to press with Leahy seeing a free-kick pushed away by Bonham.

Guthrie then rose highest to meet a corner only to see his header claimed by the keeper.

Walsall had comfortably been the better side but they survived a scare just before the break.

A short corner routine led to a huge scramble in the Saddlers box.

But after a few last-ditch blocks, the ball was eventually hacked clear.

Walsall made a change at the break with Josh Gordon replacing Ferrier.

And it was the forward who had the first chance of the half with the former Leicester trying his luck from 25-yards only for Bonham to be equal to the effort.

Rovers made a double change just before the hour mark with Alex Jakubiak and Liam Sercombe replacing Nichols and Kyle Bennett.

It was Walsall who threatened next though with Cook seeing a wonderful half-volley from 25-yards pushed away by the keeper.

Clarke’s side responded with Ollie Clark hitting a dipping and swerving strike from 20-yards which Roberts did well to beat away.

Then from a corner, James Clarke headed straight at the keeper.

While the second-half had been move even, Walsall had another great chance to opening the scoring with 15 minutes to go.

A dangerous Dobson free-kick looked destined to be flicked in by Fitzwater.

But the defender got his timings wrong and instead headed wide when he should have done better.

With the clock ticking down, the game suddenly became end to end with both teams having good chances to open the scoring.

First Daniel Leadbitter hit the byline before picking out Sam Matthews with a low cross.

But from 12-yards, the substitute saw a shot well blocked by the Walsall defence.

Then at the other end, Cook should have put his side into the lead when he side-stepped his marked in the box before seeing a low drive saved by the legs of the keeper.

Incredibly the tempo the game went up a notch further in four minutes of added on time.

Rovers came a whisker away from winning it when a Matthews free-kick was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Roberts.

But then in the final minute of added on time, Walsall grabbed the win their overall performance had deserved.

A combination of Cook and Dobson saw the ball worked to Morris in the box. And he then fired through the legs of the keeper to earn the Saddlers a deserved three points.

Teams:

Bristol Rovers: Bonham; Leadbitter, J.Clarke, Craig, Martin, O.Clarke, Lines, Sinclair (Matthews 46), Bennett (Sercombe 57), Reilly, Nichols (Jakubiak 57).

Subs not used: Smith, Upson, Broadbent, Partington.

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Ismail (Morris 74), Kinsella, Dobson, Ginnelly, Cook, Ferrier (Gordon 46).

Subs not used: Dunn, Johnson, Wilson, Ronan, Kouhyar.