Analysis: Gap too big as valiant Walsall bow out of FA Cup

Walsall could only fill six of the nine allocated substitute slots, with academy forward Charlie Wragg and new loan signing Emmanuel Adegboyega both on the bench.

The Saddlers had been in fine form themselves with six wins from seven in all competitions, including a 6-1 thrashing of Grimsby Town on New Year’s Day.

But the toll, both mentally and physically, of playing four games in 10 days over Christmas clearly made the task at hand harder.

It felt as if it was going to be a long afternoon when Ryan Fraser chested down Taylor Harwood- Bellis’ diagonal ball and tucked a tidy finish into the far bottom corner on six minutes.

And it probably would have been had Sekou Mara found the target when he stabbed over from point-blank range moments later.

However, Mat Sadler made a smart switch to a back-four after 15 minutes, and Walsall kept an organised shape, and produced a disciplined performance to temper the storm that Southampton were trying to unleash.

Walsall grew into the contest somewhat, albeit while having to spend large spells out of possession, as they made Southampton work for their second goal.

Tom Knowles cut inside from the right and shot wide of the near post, and Douglas James-Taylor forced a save from Joe Lumley before he was penalised for a very soft foul.

But the biggest chance before the break fell to Isaac Hutchinson when he found himself in space in the final third.

James-Taylor peeled away from his marker to Hutchinson’s left, but the midfielder, who should have passed, elected to shoot and drilled his effort straight down Lumley’s throat.

Jackson Smith had to be on his toes to keep it at just 1-0 before the break. He initially spilled Carlos Alcaraz’s low drive from distance, until reacting quickly to claw the ball to safety as Mara looked to poise to reach the rebound.

Saints boss Russell Martin said after the game that Walsall would have felt they had a chance after half-time, and that was the message that Sadler conveyed to his players at the break.

And the moment came when Jack Earing, who had shown such composure in his finishes against Wrexham and Grimsby, broke free of the Southampton defence, but slotted a couple yards wide of the target.

That felt like a major missed opportunity, and proved to be a turning point, as Mara doubled Southampton’s advantage five minutes later.

Fraser terrorised Walsall down the left and it was the Saints loanee again, who darted past his man after Alcaraz threaded the ball into his path.

The diminutive winger crossed low, and Mara had to readjust his feet with the cross slightly behind him, before smashing his strike into the roof of the net on the hour-mark.

That second goal knocked the stuffing out of Walsall, and the floodgates opened as Southampton smelt blood.

Will Smallbone glanced his finish agonisingly wide less than 60 seconds after Saints’ second, and Fraser soon had his brace to cap an impressive display.

Alcaraz steered a pass into the feet of Fraser, and he caressed his first time finish beyond the reach of Smith and into the bottom corner.

Southampton, who made nine changes from their draw at Norwich City last time out, introduced Scotland international Che Adams to kill the game off in the closing stages. Meanwhile, Sadler never really had anyone on the bench to influence the game, as Walsall’s lengthy injury list was laid bare.

Fortunately, Ross Tierney and Ryan Stirk are expected back for the Stockport County game next week, while Joe Riley, Harry Williams, Aramide Oteh and Jamille Matt are poised to return later this month.

Despite the defeat, it was an occasion for the supporters, and a superb crowd of over 2,200 roared the Saddlers on at Southampton.

The majority also stayed to applaud the players at the end, as the unity continues to grow between the team and the fan base.

Sadler insisted Walsall had already brushed off the defeat in his post-match press conference, and attention will now immediately turn to a difficult trip to league leaders Stockport next.