Walsall debrief: Unbeaten start ends, first sign of nerves and momentary comeback

Walsall succumbed to their first league defeat of the season in a thrilling six-goal thriller against League Two leaders Salford City at Bescot on Monday.

Macauley Langstaff opened the scoring just before the interval and Jorge Grant doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half.

Aaron Pressley halved the deficit shortly after to chalk up his ninth goal of the season in all competitions, before substitute Lewis Simper opened his league account for Walsall with a headed equaliser.

But that comeback proved short-lived, as Kallum Cessay quickly restored the Ammies’ lead, with Adebola Oluwo putting the seal on the win late on.

Here are the main talking points from the defeat...

End of the unbeaten start

Walsall had a chance to lay down a significant marker against the league leaders, but came out second best in a battle between two very good teams.

It was a great advert for League Two, even if the nature of the goals conceded were disappointing from a Walsall perspective.

That defeat saw the Saddlers’ 11-match unbeaten start in the league come to an end, but just zooming out, it has to be regarded as a promising start to the season.

The task now will be for Walsall to respond when they travel to Colchester United on Saturday.

First sign of nerves

There have been periods in games this season when Walsall have been below par, but the opening exchanges were perhaps the first time that they have looked in their ‘shells’ - as head coach Lee Grant described it.

They still competed well in the first half, even if they did concede on the cusp of half-time, but they arguably did not play with the same belief that has characterised previous performances.

Nevertheless, there will be very few teams (if any in the league at least) of the same ilk as Salford that visit Bescot this season.

Momentary fightback

It was a second half full of twists and turns and Walsall did at least show their fighting spirit.

The contest seemed decided when Jorge Grant curled the Ammies’ second into the top corner following Courtney Clarke’s giveaway, but the Saddlers’ response was remarkable.

Pressley added another to his tally following some determined play by Tai Sodje and Simper marked his introduction from the bench with a powerful header in off the bar from Mason Hancock’s pinpoint cross.

The turning point

Yet defensive lapses cost them again, as Salford needed less than a minute to retake the lead.

Cesay was able to get goal-side of Ryan Leak far too easily to squeeze his finish past Jed Ward and that moment served as a major blow, especially just moments after the high of getting back on level terms.

There was no question that the players continued to fight, but they were ultimately undone from a set piece when Oluwo towered above Charlie Crew to make it 4-2.

Enforced defensive reshuffle

Grant made four changes from the 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic, although one of those was enforced following Elicha Ahui’s suspension.

Declan Skura deputised again at right-back, where he played previously in the draws at Fleetwood Town and Swindon Town respectively.

Leak was recalled to partner James Connolly at centre-back and that imposed defensive reshuffle upset the Saddlers’ balance in defence.