Walsall 0-0 Notts County: Saddlers finish pre-season with goalless draw

Walsall concluded pre-season with a goalless stalemate against League One side Notts County at Bescot.

The hosts came closest to an opener in the first half with Lewis Simper seeing his close-range finish blocked behind and Andrew Dallas sending a speculative shot just wide.

Dallas drew a smart save from James Belshaw early in the second half, before Walsall goalkeeper Jed Ward produced two strong stops to deny Maz Kouhyar and Darius Lipsiuc in the second half.

The opening exchanges were scrappy and Walsall were guilty of a number of loose touches, but new signing Reece Smith offered promise on his Bescot bow.

Smith, who signed from Harrogate Town earlier this week, delivered an early free-kick, which was headed over by Isaac Moore.

Ryan Leak wore the armband for Walsall in the first half and made a crucial intervention when he cleared Emile Acquah’s stabbed effort at goal.

Walsall began to offer more of an attacking threat towards the end of the first half and almost broke the deadlock when Simper’s finish was blocked behind at close quarters.

Elicha Ahui embarked on a promising run after cushioning down Mason Hancock’s diagonal ball, which eventually resulted in Dallas volleying straight at Belshaw.

Dallas began to operate between the lines more menacingly and his shot on the swivel floated just wide of Belshaw’s right-hand post, although it always looked like the County goalkeeper had it covered.

Belshaw was forced into a smart save early in the second half when Dallas latched on to Simper’s flick-on and drilled a low shot towards the bottom corner.

Hancock was penalised for pulling back Cal Roberts midway into the second half and Kouhyar stung the palms of Jed Ward with a powerful free-kick.

Ward thwarted Lipsiuc from grabbing the winner against his former club with a crucial save from point blank range, after County sliced through the Walsall defence with ease.

Next, Walsall will kick-off the competitive action with a trip to Championship side Bristol City in the Carabao Cup first round on Thursday.

Teams

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Ahui (Harris 84), Burke, Leak, Hancock (Harper 80); Sprangler (Bunn 72), Moore, Simper (Adomah 72), Dallas (Sodje 60), Smith (Clarke 72); Pressley (Maher 90).

Other details

Referee: Elliot Bell