Match ends, Walsall 2, Port Vale 0.
WalsallWalsall2Port ValePort Vale0
Sean O'Driscoll began his career as Walsall head coach with victory over Port Vale to go second in League One.
Vale's Richard Duffy had a third-minute effort disallowed for offside after goalkeeper Neil Etheridge had spilled Ryan McGivern's header.
Substitute Jordan Cook put Walsall ahead, slotting home after Jak Alnwick parried Jason Demetriou's shot.
Cook got a second from 12 yards as he reacted quickest after George Evans had kept the ball alive in the box.
Vale had decent opportunities to go ahead, Sam Kelly and AJ Leitch-Smith both having chances saved by Etheridge either side of half-time.
Walsall's Anthony Forde forced a good save from the legs of Alnwick after Cook had teed him up six minutes after the opening goal.
Walsall head coach Sean O'Driscoll told BBC WM 95.6:
"I was just pleased with the way they performed in some senses.
"I said to them before the game 'if you want to impress me, impress me with your attitude and your honesty and your commitment' - and I thought they did.
"I still think they are punching above their weight and I think the second half of the season is going to be a little bit more difficult."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Etheridge
- 2Demetriou
- 6Downing
- 4O'Connor
- 3Taylor
- 7Chambers
- 27EvansSubstituted forMantomat 90+2'minutes
- 18MorrisSubstituted forCookat 60'minutes
- 10Sawyers
- 12Forde
- 15Lalkovic
Substitutes
- 8Mantom
- 11Baxendale
- 16Preston
- 17Flanagan
- 21Cook
- 22Kinsella
- 23Roberts
Port Vale
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 21Alnwick
- 2Purkiss
- 5McGivernBooked at 85mins
- 6Duffy
- 16Yates
- 8O'ConnorBooked at 75mins
- 42Grant
- 19MooreSubstituted forHooperat 84'minutes
- 10DoddsSubstituted forIkpeazuat 55'minutes
- 18KellySubstituted forFoleyat 71'minutes
- 20Leitch-Smith
Substitutes
- 1Neal
- 4Streete
- 7Birchall
- 9Ikpeazu
- 11Foley
- 14Daniel
- 15Hooper
- Referee:
- Kevin Wright
- Attendance:
- 4,436
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamPort Vale
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home1
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 2, Port Vale 0.
Post update
Andy Taylor (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Sam Mantom replaces George Evans.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Purkiss (Port Vale) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Paul Downing.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Anthony Forde.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Forde (Walsall).
Post update
Michael O'Connor (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Milan Lalkovic (Walsall).
Post update
Ryan McGivern (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Ryan McGivern (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ryan McGivern (Port Vale).
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. JJ Hooper replaces Byron Moore.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 2, Port Vale 0. Jordan Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Uche Ikpeazu (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).
