Match ends, Walsall 2, Fleetwood Town 0.
WalsallWalsall2FleetwoodFleetwood Town0
League One leaders Walsall moved into the second round of the FA Cup at the expense of struggling Fleetwood.
Midfielder George Evans gave Walsall the lead, firing in a low drive after good work from Milan Lalkovic and Romaine Sawyers.
Fleetwood went close a number of times in the second half, but Anthony Forde sealed it for Walsall with a powerful cross-shot from the left.
Walsall will be the highest-ranked side in Monday's second-round draw.
Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM:
"I think the little bit of quality in the game was the goal by George Evans, we've gone through by being average in all honesty.
"I thought at times we showed some really good play, but on the majority I was disappointed with us.
"We looked like we lacked a little bit of energy today, but in the end defended well enough to get the win."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1EtheridgeSubstituted forMacGillivrayat 46'minutes
- 2Demetriou
- 6Downing
- 16Preston
- 14Henry
- 18Morris
- 27Evans
- 7Chambers
- 15LalkovicSubstituted forFordeat 46'minutes
- 10Sawyers
- 9BradshawSubstituted forCookat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 11Baxendale
- 12Forde
- 13MacGillivray
- 17Flanagan
- 21Cook
- 22Kinsella
Fleetwood
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Maxwell
- 2McLaughlin
- 6Pond
- 47DavisBooked at 33mins
- 7Bell
- 12Hornby-Forbes
- 18Sarcevic
- 5JónssonSubstituted forHaughtonat 71'minutes
- 23BallSubstituted forMcManusat 78'minutes
- 8Ryan
- 9ProctorSubstituted forMattat 46'minutesBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 4Jordan
- 10Matt
- 14Grant
- 17McManus
- 27Haughton
- 28Sowerby
- 40Gogic
- Referee:
- Ross Joyce
- Attendance:
- 2,532
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamFleetwood
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 2, Fleetwood Town 0.
Post update
Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Matt Preston.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 2, Fleetwood Town 0. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner.
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Attempt missed. Nathan Pond (Fleetwood Town) header from the centre of the box is too high.
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Hand ball by Adam Chambers (Walsall).
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Joe Davis (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jordan Cook (Walsall).
Booking
Jamille Matt (Fleetwood Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jamille Matt (Fleetwood Town).
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Matt Preston (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Jason Demetriou.
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Foul by Kieron Morris (Walsall).
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Antoni Sarcevic (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Declan McManus (Fleetwood Town).
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Rico Henry (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Jamille Matt (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Foul by Kieron Morris (Walsall).
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Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Declan McManus (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
