Bristol City 2 Walsall 0 - Tim Nash's verdict

Goals by Aden Flint (15) and Mark Little (51) saw the Saddlers' hopes of lifting silverware on their first visit to the home of English football disappear.

And in truth, Walsall and their near 30,000 support in the excellent crowd of 72,315 could have few complaints.

There was a suggestion of fouls for both goals as Flint may have climbed on Paul Downing and Little leant on Andy Taylor.

But the Saddlers produced a flat performance, allowing the League One leaders too much time on the ball and rarely showing enough dynamism or quality when they were in possession.

Too often as well the final ball from Dean Smith's side rarely found its target.

Bristol City had the first sight of goal in the fourth minute when Luke Freeman produced a smart turn to beat Anthony Forde and burst forwards but his rising shot from 25 yards brushed the top of the net.

City continued to enjoy the better of the opening exchanges and two minutes later midfielder Korey Smith saw a low drive deflected away for a corner.

But within 60 seconds, Walsall broke to force a half chance when Forde's drive was gathered by Frank Fielding at his near post.

In a lively start, City broke quickly through Freeman, who was given too much room before slipping the ball wide for wing back Mark Little, but the former Wolves man overhit his cross.

Kieran Agard forced the first save from Walsall keeper Richard O'Donnell in the 10th minute when he cut in from the left and squeezed a low effort that went through the legs of Paul Downing before the Saddlers shotstopper smothered at his near post.

The Saddlers boss admitted they struggled to impose themselves attacking-wise and conceded two poor goals to Bristol City in a 2-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy final defeat.

"I'm bitterly disappointed," said Smith. "Our use of the ball which is usually our strength of ours wasn't good enough. They used it better than we did."

Smith reflected that in both areas of the pitch Walsall weren't quite enough to trouble the League One champions-elect.

Both Bristol goals from Aden Flint and Mark Little came from crosses into the six-yard box.

"We conceded two poor goals from our point of view," he said. "That's disappointing."

But the result was the only cloud on a memorable day as more than 30,000 Saddlers fans headed to the home of football to cheer their team.

But the Robins' superior start found its rewards when they took the lead.

Aden Flint beat Downing in the air to crash home a towering header from Marlon Pack's inswinging corner from four yards out.

Walsall were allowing gaps between the midfield and defence which were being exploited by the League One leaders regularly, and in particular Freeman.

Perhaps they were paying the Robins too much respect and it seemed like they needed to get about their opponents more.

The Saddlers pushed forwards and after Bristol's defence made a mess of a cross from the right, the ball found its way out to Andy Taylor on the left but his deep cross was met by a poor twisting header from Jordan Cook which looped well wide.

Walsall gradually worked their way into the game and after a decent period of possession, the Saddlers threatened through Ben Purkiss, who let fly with a 30-yard shot that flew a few inches over, the right back afterwards protesting that it should have been a corner.

After a quiet spell, City broke through Freeman again and after his right-wing cross was headed away, Pack seized on the loose ball and saw a firm, curling effort smothered by O'Donnell.

Walsall forward Romaine Sawyers was the first player to be booked in the 39th minute after catching Little late on the touchline.

But from almost out of the blue, the Saddlers went desperately close to an equaliser three minutes before the break.

Andy Taylor adjusted himself superbly to hook a volley inches over the angle after Purkiss's deep cross had been knocked back by Cook at the far post.

But six minutes after the break and with the game in a lull, City doubled their lead.

Freeman swung in a hanging right-footed cross from the left and Little climbed above Andy Taylor to head goalwards.

His header was smothered on the line by O'Donnell but the Walsall keeper couldn't hold on to it and Little followed up to poke the ball home.

Walsall protested that Taylor was fouled but referee Mick Russell was in no doubt at allowing the goal to stand.

The Saddlers tried to hit back and on 57 minutes, Sam Mantom blazed over after Forde's corner had been headed away by Flint and touched back by Purkiss.

Then Cook had three sights of goal in what was proving to be Walsall's most dangerous spell of the game.

First the former Sunderland midfielder's cross from the left beat Fielding but came back off the far post and Tom Bradshaw was crowded out trying to squeeze in a shot on 59.

Seconds later Cook cut inside and unleashed a fierce curling effort only for it to fly a few feet wide.

Subs not used: Wagstaff, Saville, Tavernier, Richards (gk).

Walsall (4-2-3-1): O'Donnell; Purkiss, Downing, J Chambers, Taylor; A Chambers, Mantom; Forde (Grimes 74), Sawyers, Cook (Bazendale 80); Bradshaw (Hiwula 61).

Subs not used: O'Connor, Cain, Flanagan, MacGillivray (gk).

Referee: Mick Russell (Herts)

Then his 62nd minute looping header was caught on the line by the backpedalling Fielding from Purkiss's cross.

In between, manager Dean Smith made a change with Jordy Hiwula replacing Bradshaw up front on 61.

Walsall however couldn't maintain their threat and the game became mired in midfield with City content to hold on to their two-goal lead.

The Saddlers needed a spark from somewhere and Forde tried to provide it in the 74th minute.

The former Wolves winger cut inside onto his left foot but his curling shot sailed some way over the bar.

It was to prove the Irishman's last piece of action as he was replaced by Ashley Grimes within seconds, the former Bury man operating as a direct replacement at wide right.

Smith made his final gamble in the 80th minute when he threw on James Baxendale for Cook.

And the midfielder had a sniff of goal five minutes later when he burst forward but could only produce a tame finish, his low, weak effort trickling well wide.

Bristol City made their first switch in the 87th minute when Greg Cunningham came on for Joe Bryan on the left.

And that was followed two minutes later by the arrival of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for Kieran Agard up front as they looked to run down the clock, and Wade Elliott or Freeman on 90.

If there were any more goals, it looked more than likely that they were going to come from City as Walsall struggled to get out of their own half.

In the end it remained 2-0 and the Saddlers were well beaten on their first trip to Wembley.