Walsall 1 Crewe 2 - Report and pictures

A Caolan Lavery goal within the first 15 minutes gave the Saddlers the lead in a first 45 where they should have been out of sight.

But two Crewe goals in 17 second-half minutes, from Daniel Powell and Oli Finney, handed the visitors the victory.

Darrell Clarke made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Morecambe on Tuesday, starting in a 4-4-2 formation.

Shay Facey made his return from injury, replacing Cameron Norman at right-back, who dropped to the bench.

Liam Kinsella and Rory Holden also came into the starting XI, meaning Danny Guthrie and Elijah Adebayo were named among the substitutes.

Zak Jules returned to the bench after a lay-off with injury.

David Artell’s Crewe side made one change from the side that beat Leyton Orient 2-0 in mid-week, starting in a 4-3-3 formation.

James Jones came into midfield, replacing Paul Green who dropped to the bench.

Crewe top goalscorer Chris Porter returned to the bench after a hamstring injury, which had kept him out of action since December 10.

After a quiet first half the first chance fell to crewe. Chuma Anene did well to cushion a header down to Jones who shot first time from the edge of the box - his effort whistled wide.

Walsall then went close when some excellent passing build-up play put Shay Facey through down the right but his shot was saved.

After 15 minutes it was Walsall who took the lead. Josh Gordon flicked on for Lavery who raced onto the ball and slid in just ahead of the goalkeeper to finish.

The Saddlers continued to knock on the door when a Holden cross found Lavery, who directed his header just wide.

Moments later, a Holden free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box and Nathan Sheron’s first-time shot was fired inches wide of the post.

With the Saddlers on top, Holden then did the business at the other end when an excellent last-gasp challenge stopped Crewe from getting through on goal.

After a positive first half for Clarke’s men, the Saddlers went into half-time winning 1-0.

Within five minutes of the re-start, Crewe levelled the score. A corner was headed on by Perry Ng and Powell tapped in from close range to make it 1-1.

Charlie Kirk then curled an effort wide minutes later.

Anene should have put Crewe ahead in the 65th minute. A Kirk cross found the striker 10 yards out, with a free header, but he put it wide of the post.

After 67 minutes, Finney put the visitors ahead. A long ball found Kirk and the forward cushioned a header to Finney who ran through and rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

Crewe continued to dominate the rest of the half and had more glimpses of goal through Ryan Wintle and Kirk as Walsall struggled to get back into the contest.

The Saddlers huffed and puffed in the final moments of the game but failed to get back into it and were condemned to their third consecutive defeat.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Facey, Scarr, Sadler, Pring, Holden (Adebayo 78), Kinsella, Sheron (Guthrie 71), McDonald (Nolan 68), Lavery, Gordon.

Subs not used: Rose, Norman, Jules, Sinclair.

Crewe: Jaaskelainen, Ng, Nottingham, Offord, Pickering, Jones, Winkle, Finney (Ainley 69), Powell, Anene, Kirk.

Subs not used: Richards, Porter, Green, Dale, Sass-Davies, Walker.

Attendance: 4,610 (860 away).