Colchester United 0-2 Walsall

Forde has netted two goal in three games to take his Walsall tally to four since his summer move from Wolves

Colchester United's relegation worries deepened as they suffered a fifth successive home league defeat.

The third-bottom U's missed early chances through Sanchez Watt and Sammie Szmodics before Walsall's Jordan Cook hit the woodwork from a tight angle.

The Saddlers took the lead just after the half-hour mark when an unmarked Anthony Forde headed in Cook's cross.

Alex Wynter hit the bar for the hosts before Michael Cain's 75th-minute tap-in secured Walsall's victory.

The Saddlers had lost their last two league matches, either side of their 2-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy northern area final first-leg victory over Preston North End at Deepdale.

But Dean Smith's side are now back within three points of the League One play-off zone.

Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM:

"We weren't at our fluid best. that said, it was a very professional performance and a deserved victory in the end.

"We could have done better in possession, but we scored a couple of good goals, kept a clean sheet and it's nice to be back on the winning trail.

"It was an afternoon where we showed character and determination to bring home the points."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Colchester

• 1Walker
• 20ClohessyBooked at 37mins
• 13Gorkss
• 18Eastman
• 2Wynter
• 24Moncur
• 38Fox
• 28Szmodics
• 7Sanchez WattSubstituted forMasseyat 74'minutes
• 19HealeySubstituted forBonneat 69'minutes
• 41HewittSubstituted forSembie-Ferrisat 79'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Gordon
• 8Gilbey
• 12Lewington
• 21Massey
• 27Bonne
• 32Lapslie
• 37Sembie-Ferris

Walsall

• 1O'Donnell
• 2Purkiss
• 15Chambers
• 4O'ConnorSubstituted forDowningat 4'minutes
• 3TaylorBooked at 81minsSubstituted forHenryat 83'minutes
• 27Forde
• 7Chambers
• 12Cain
• 21CookSubstituted forBaxendaleat 78'minutes
• 10Sawyers
• 9Bradshaw

Substitutes

• 6Downing
• 11Baxendale
• 13MacGillivray
• 17Flanagan
• 24Grimes
• 25Henry
• 37Manset

Referee:

Brendan Malone

Attendance:

2,980

Match Stats

Home TeamColchesterAway TeamWalsall

Possession

Home48%

Away52%

Shots

Home11

Away12

Shots on Target

Home6

Away4

Corners

Home6

Away3

Fouls

Home7

Away10

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Colchester United 0, Walsall 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Colchester United 0, Walsall 2.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt missed. James Baxendale (Walsall) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Tom Eastman (Colchester United).

Posted at 90'+3'

Tom Bradshaw (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

David Fox (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Michael Cain (Walsall).

Posted at 88'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Sean Clohessy.

Posted at 85'

Hand ball by Romaine Sawyers (Walsall).

Posted at 85'

Attempt saved. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Sammie Szmodics (Colchester United).

Posted at 84'

Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, Walsall. Rico Henry replaces Andy Taylor because of an injury.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Ben Purkiss.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Ben Purkiss.

Booking

Posted at 81'

Andy Taylor (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 81'

Dion Sembie-Ferris (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Andy Taylor (Walsall).

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Colchester United. Dion Sembie-Ferris replaces Elliott Hewitt.

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Walsall. James Baxendale replaces Jordan Cook.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Gavin Massey.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Kaspars Gorkss (Colchester United).

Posted at 77'

Tom Bradshaw (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 75'

Goal! Colchester United 0, Walsall 2. Michael Cain (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Bradshaw with a cross.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Jordan Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Colchester United. Gavin Massey replaces Sanchez Watt.

Posted at 74'

Foul by George Moncur (Colchester United).

Posted at 74'

Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Attempt blocked. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 71'

Attempt missed. Alex Wynter (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Andy Taylor.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. George Moncur (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, Colchester United. Macauley Bonne replaces Rhys Healey.

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 68'

Attempt saved. Kaspars Gorkss (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Elliott Hewitt (Colchester United).

Posted at 67'

Andy Taylor (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 66'

Attempt missed. Jordan Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Posted at 66'

Attempt saved. Sammie Szmodics (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 65'

Delay in match Ben Purkiss (Walsall) because of an injury.

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