The verdict: Walsall break cycle of away draws in Colchester victory

Walsall have made themselves difficult to beat on the road this season and are yet to suffer a defeat on their travels in League Two, but translating draws into wins has proven challenging.

The previous five away matches had ended honours even, but Walsall managed to break that cycle, even if they did have to withstand considerable pressure from Colchester United at times.

It was important that Walsall issued a winning response as well in the wake of their first defeat of the season against league leaders Salford City on Monday night.

Lee Grant has suggested that ‘zero attention’ was paid towards the 11-match unbeaten start, but even he admitted the importance of emerging from Essex with victory, in order to increase confidence levels and continue momentum.

He made three changes from that setback against Salford, and perhaps most notably, restored Elicha Ahui at right-back following the end of his one-game suspension.

That meant that Declan Skura was able to switch to centre-back and Walsall looked much more solid in the centre of defence as a result.

Skura was at the heart of the action during the opening exchanges, as his pass to split the lines, launched an attack which led to an early corner. Reece Smith swung an enticing delivery into the danger area and Skura was able to get the telling touch amid a chaotic goalmouth scramble.

But Walsall didn’t really seize the initiative after an early breakthrough and brought pressure on to themselves by largely retaining possession across the back-line.

Colchester continued to push further up the pitch and wrestled back more control once Jack Payne got in behind to force a smart save from Jed Ward on 20 minutes.

Southampton loanee Moses Sesay exposed Ahui on a number of occasions and tempted him into a clumsy trip inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Payne, who was a threat throughout for Colchester, planted his penalty into the bottom corner.

The right-back position feels like an area that Grant will need to address in January. Rico Browne has been allowed to leave on loan to Woking and Roman Dixon has missed largely two-and-a-half months of the season with injury.

Dixon was available for selection this weekend after working his way back to fitness, but he will still need time to bed back into the first team frame, after his struggles with injury since joining Walsall.

It was unsurprising that Grant reshuffled his back-line though. Walsall shipped four goals against Salford and certainly look much stronger with Skura and James Connolly in the centre of defence.

Ahui has had a mixed start at Walsall, although it must also be taken into consideration that he missed 10 months with an ACL injury before returning in April.

But unless Dixon can avoid any further injuries and establish himself as a reliable option, then right-back must be high on the list of priorities in the winter window.

The hosts had also had a goal ruled out when Sean Raggett towered above his marker to head inside the near post, although Grant felt that the correct decision was reached.

“Yes [it was the correct decision]. We don’t get a chance to be able to show the referee and the fourth official, but they got it right,” the Walsall head coach suggested.

“Which is nice because we’ve had some significant ones go against us in recent weeks, but they got it right.”

Jed Ward proved his importance again too and made a big save to divert Sesay’s powerful shot over the crossbar at 1-1.

Colchester continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and there was a point where it felt like the hosts could be the team to emerge with victory.

That changed when Grant introduced Courtney Clarke and Andy Dallas. The latter provided Walsall with more impetus in attack and Walsall began to create more overloads on the left.

The fitness levels of this team and their ability to go deep into games also proved decisive. Mason Hancock registered his second assist of the week with an excellent cross for Aaron Pressley to glance his header into the far corner.

That extended his season tally to 10 across all competitions, as he scored for the third successive game in Walsall colours for the first time.

Smith also thundered a shot on to the crossbar and suddenly Walsall were the team in the ascendency. They then killed Colchester off deep into stoppage time and it was a goal that illustrated the hunger of the subs.

Dallas was sent clean through on goal and his rebounded effort was turned in off the crossbar by Clarke to propel Walsall into the automatic promotion places.