Walsall 0-0 Leyton Orient (lost 6-5 on pens): Saddlers exit Carabao Cup

Walsall were eliminated from the Carabao Cup on penalties following a goalless draw against Leyton Orient in the second round at Bescot.

Jed Ward preserved his fourth successive clean sheet with a number of saves, including a phenomenal stop to flick Charlie Wellens’ shot over his crossbar.

Orient skipper Will Forrester prevented Andrew Dallas’ finish from trickling over the line, before Harrison Burke had a goal ruled out for offside in first half stoppage time.

Declan Skura was denied from the spot by Noah Phillips, before Joseph Olowu scored the winning penalty for the O’s.

Lee Grant made seven changes from the Saddlers’ team which started their goalless draw against Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Ward was called upon twice in quick succession during the opening exchanges. The Saddlers No 1 punched away Theo Archibald’s teasing effort from the right, before plunging to his right to repel a low shot from Demetri Mitchell moments later.

Walsall had the finger tips of Ward to thank once again, as he sprung into an outstanding save to prevent Charlie Wellens’ thunderous effort from rifling into the roof of his net.

Andrew Dallas came agonisingly close to opening his goal scoring account for the club when Forester stopped his goal-bound finish from trickling over the line.

Ward was forced into action again just past the half-hour mark when Mitchell broke in behind, but Nicholas Oyekunle’s finish from the subsequent cross was expertly repelled.

Dallas continued to knock on the door for Walsall, but Phillips stuck out a vital right glove to claw away his low drive from the edge of the box.

Burke initially appeared to have found the breakthrough on the cusp of half-time when he towered above his marker to head Reece Smith’s free-kick into the bottom corner.

The linesman raised his flag on the nearside, seemingly for a foul, to cut his celebrations short.

Isaac Moore dragged a low effort wide from the edge of the box immediately after the restart, before Demetri Mitchell headed a presentable chance over at the other end.

Ward denied Charlie Wellens for the second time when he stooped low to his near post to palm his low shot behind.

Grant introduced Courtney Clarke, Aaron Pressley and Lewis Simper in attack - while debutant James Furlong had to be replaced by Mason Hancock following a knock.

The tie went to penalties, but Walsall saw their journey in the competition come to an end with a 6-5 loss in the shoot-out.

Next, Walsall welcome Accrington Stanley to Bescot on Saturday, before travelling to Crewe Alexandra next Tuesday.

Teams

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Browne, Connolly (c - Skura 67), Burke, Furlong (Hancock 60); Moore, Crew; Adomah (Clarke 56), Sodje, Smith (Simper 67); Dallas (Pressley 56).

Not used: Wooster, Sprangler, Ahui, Sjoerdsma.

Leyton Orient (4-2-3-1): Phillips; Gilchrist (Oluwo 46), Forrester (Stevens 75), Chinedu (Hayden 46), Morris; Levitt (El Mizouni 60), Obiero; Mitchell, C Wellens, Archibald; Oyekunle (Kabia 67).

Not used: Cahill, Akhamrich, Springett, A Wellens.

Other details

Referee: Andrew Humphries

Attendance: 2,679