Walsall 2-1 Bristol Rovers - Report
A second-half brace from Aaron Pressley saw a determined Walsall fight back to beat Bristol Rovers and extend their unbeaten run.
The Saddlers endured a difficult first half, with Fabrizio Cavegn giving the visitors the lead. But Mat Sadler’s men showed character after the break to turn the game around and make it seven League Two matches without defeat.
Walsall retained their position at top of the league as former Walsall boss Darrell Clarke, now in charge of Rovers, left empty-handed on his Bescot return.
Mat Sadler named an unchanged starting 11 from the side that beat Accrington Stanley. However, there was one change to the bench, as Jamie Jellis returned from injury to replace Rico Richards.
Prior to kick-off, Walsall announced that midfielder Ronan Maher had rejoined National League side Tamworth on loan. Maher was named on the bench for the Lambs’ clash with Morecambe.
In a poor first-half for Walsall, the visitors started the brighter. Away supporters thought Fabrizio Cavegn had given their side the lead inside just 20 seconds, but his effort was narrowly wide.
The forward continued to cause problems for the Saddlers and played in Bryant Bilongo, whose powerful strike was well saved by Myles Roberts approaching the 10-minute mark.
However, the hosts gradually responded to the early pressure, building some momentum of their own, and captain Aden Flint came close with a towering header that flew just over the bar.
But, after tempers flared between the two in-form sides Bristol took a deserved lead through danger man Cavegn. Jack Sparkes’ ball found Bilongo, and after some neat footwork from Ellis Harrison - who couldn’t get a shot away himself - the ball broke to Cavegn, who punished Walsall’s failure to clear and fired low into the bottom-left corner.
After a frustrating first-half, Mat Sadler made two changes for the second period, introducing Brandon Comley and Courtney Clarke for Lewis Warrington and Ryan Finnigan.
The changes lifted Walsall, and Connor Barrett saw an goalbound effort blocked on the 50-minute mark.
Defender Harrison Burke was replaced by Priestley Farquharson after receiving treatment, before midfielder Jellis made his return from the bench. He was immediately involved, sparking the move that led to the equaliser.
On the 70-minute mark, Pressley met Vincent Harper’s cross with a precise header to level the scores. And nine minutes later, the striker showed great composure to seal the turnaround, latching onto Barrett’s incisive through ball and slotting home a calm finish.
The Saddlers withstood heavy late pressure during 10 minutes of added time but held firm to secure a vital victory that keeps them top of the table.
Lineups
Walsall (3-5-2): Roberts; Burke (Farquharson, 56), Flint (c), Weir; Barrett, Lakin (Jellis, 64), Finnigan (Clarke, 46), Warrington (Comley, 46), Harper; Kanu (Adomah, 75), Pressley
Subs not used: Hornby, Adomah, Matt.
Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Southwood, Sparkes, Kilgour, Lopata, Southam-Hales, Chang, McEahran (Conteh, 67), Bilongo (Sotiriou, 77), Thomas (Dewsbury, 88), Harrison (Issaka, 88), Cavegn.
Subs not used: Senior, Moore, Mola.
Attendance: 8,003
Referee: Stephen Martin
