Walsall talking points: Penalty heartbreak, clean sheet and attacking concerns

Walsall held League One side Leyton Orient to a goalless draw, before bowing out on penalties in the Carabao Cup second round at Bescot.

Here are the main talking points from the Saddlers’ cup exit on Tuesday night...

Shoot-out heartbreak

Penalty shoot-out heartbreak has become a familiar theme for Walsall, who have been knocked out of this competition via spot-kicks in each of the past three seasons.

They lost 3-0 after holding then Premier League opponents Leicester City to a goalless draw in the third round in 2024 and 4-3 following another score-less stalemate at Stoke City last term.

Noah Phillips denied Lewis Simper from the Saddlers’ first attempt from 12 yards, before Jaze Kabia missed the target for Orient.

Courtney Clarke, Mason Hancock, Tai Sodje and Aaron Pressley converted for Walsall. However, Declan Skura was denied by Phillips, as Joseph Olowu stepped up to score the winning penalty for the visitors.

4 clean sheets

Walsall have still not conceded a single goal in 360 minutes of football (excluding added time) under Grant.

Jed Ward played a vital role in preserving his fourth shutout on the spin - producing five saves in total - including a phenomenal finger tip stop to deny Charlie Wellens’ powerful strike.

Ward prevented 1.67 goals against Orient, a total which increases to a staggering 6.15 across each of his first four appearances.

Goals at a premium

There is still a growing concern at the lack of goals. Besides from the late siege at Gillingham on the opening day, Walsall have not quite possessed the cutting edge to kill off opponents in the final third.

Walsall are creating chances at least. They have generated an xG of 6.56 so far in all competitions, but have found the net just four times in the process.

They have registered back-to-back goalless draws in regulation time, although it must be said that both draws have a very different feel to the score-less stalemates against Accrington Stanley and Crawley Town in January.

Andrew Dallas had a pair of chances in the first half and Harrison Burke had a goal ruled out for the most marginal of offsides in first half stoppage time.

The supporters are recognising that this team are playing with a purpose and they just need to be more clinical in front of goal, which perhaps highlights the need for another centre-forward before the end of the window.

In their defence, Walsall have come up against two very sturdy back-lines and those strong defensive foundations will always give them a chance in games.

If they fail to find the team net against Accrington Stanley on Saturday though, then those concerns will only continue to grow.

7 changes

Grant made seven changes from the team that started the Saddlers’ goalless draw with Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Ward, James Connolly, Isaac Moore and Dallas were the only survivors in the XI from the weekend.

Latest signing James Furlong made his debut at left-back and Tai Sodje was handed his first start.

In total, there were 15 changes across both XIs, as visitors Orient made eight alterations.