Match ends, Walsall 3, Gillingham 2.
WalsallWalsall3GillinghamGillingham2
Walsall leapfrogged Gillingham into top spot in League One with a dramatic last-minute comeback victory.
The visitors took the lead through Cody McDonald's clever dinked finish following a great ball from Doug Loft.
Bradley Dack then doubled the Gills' lead from the penalty spot before Kieron Morris's 25-yard drive and Milan Lalkovic's tap-in levelled proceedings.
Jason Demetriou's smashed effort in injury time completed the comeback win for the Saddlers.
The result means Gillingham's six-game unbeaten run in the league is over and they drop to third in the table whilst Walsall move up to first having won for the ninth time this season.
Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM:
"Yes, it was a lot of fun, it wasn't fun after 25 minutes when they went 2-0 up!
"I thought it was a really entertaining game, a great game of football for League One, two good teams trying to get the win.
"I was disappointed with the goals we conceded, because we made a couple of mistakes there which we don't normally do.
"But the character the players have shown to come back from that and get the result is fantastic for them."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Etheridge
- 2DemetriouBooked at 69mins
- 4O'Connor
- 6Downing
- 14HenrySubstituted forTaylorat 90+3'minutes
- 18Morris
- 7Chambers
- 27EvansSubstituted forFlanaganat 87'minutes
- 15LalkovicBooked at 67minsSubstituted forCookat 77'minutes
- 10Sawyers
- 9Bradshaw
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 11Baxendale
- 12Forde
- 13MacGillivray
- 16Preston
- 17Flanagan
- 21Cook
Gillingham
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 1Nelson
- 2JacksonBooked at 67minsSubstituted forWilliamsonat 90+3'minutes
- 4Egan
- 26Lennon
- 24DickensonSubstituted forHessenthalerat 69'minutes
- 15Morris
- 11McGlashanBooked at 17minsSubstituted forGarmstonat 55'minutes
- 7Loft
- 23DackBooked at 61mins
- 17Donnelly
- 10McDonaldBooked at 80mins
Substitutes
- 3Garmston
- 5Ehmer
- 6Houghton
- 8Hessenthaler
- 9Williamson
- 12Morris
- 16Osadabe
- Referee:
- Darren Drysdale
- Attendance:
- 6,663
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamGillingham
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 3, Gillingham 2.
Post update
Attempt saved. Reece Flanagan (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Cody McDonald (Gillingham).
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Ben Williamson replaces Ryan Jackson.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Andy Taylor replaces Rico Henry.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kieron Morris (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 3, Gillingham 2. Jason Demetriou (Walsall) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Rico Henry (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Rory Donnelly (Gillingham).
Post update
Kieron Morris (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Doug Loft (Gillingham).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Reece Flanagan replaces George Evans.
Post update
Rico Henry (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jake Hessenthaler (Gillingham).
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by James O'Connor.
Post update
Attempt missed. John Egan (Gillingham) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by George Evans.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Romaine Sawyers.
