Match ends, Walsall 2, Peterborough United 0.
WalsallWalsall2PeterboroughPeterborough United0
League One leaders Walsall scored twice in the last 10 minutes to secure a hard-fought victory over Peterborough.
Defender Jason Demetriou met George Evans' pass to put the Saddlers ahead, his shot deflecting off Posh's Miles Addison and into the back of the net.
Evans, on loan from Manchester City, then turned goalscorer as he poked home Kieron Morris' pull back.
The goals came against the run of play as the visitors had been enjoying the better of the second-half exchanges.
Posh's Conor Washington had his side's best chance as his point-blank header was tipped over by goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Walsall head coach Sean O'Driscoll told BBC WM:
"A clean sheet, I think that's been a massive plus for everybody.
"If you look at the team, there's goals. There's quite a lot of forward players and forward-thinking players and we've not got arguably our best striker on the pitch.
"I think clean sheets bring confidence, as well as helping to win games."
Peterborough boss Graham Westley told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"They dominated the first half, but we did what good sides do, we dug in, we were resilient.
"We went forward with too little composure, we were too quick to play the forward pass and as a result our play was patchy.
"I asked them to show much more composure in the second half, much more control over the game, and I thought they did.
"We were relentless in terms of our possession for long periods, didn't take our chances and then were punished in the cruellest of ways towards the end."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Etheridge
- 2Demetriou
- 6DowningSubstituted forPrestonat 13'minutes
- 4O'Connor
- 3Taylor
- 8MantomSubstituted forFordeat 74'minutes
- 27Evans
- 7Chambers
- 10SawyersBooked at 90mins
- 21CookSubstituted forMorrisat 88'minutes
- 15Lalkovic
Substitutes
- 11Baxendale
- 12Forde
- 14Henry
- 16Preston
- 18Morris
- 22Kinsella
- 23Roberts
Peterborough
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Alnwick
- 2SmithBooked at 90mins
- 35Addison
- 8BostwickSubstituted forAlmeida Santosat 60'minutes
- 11Maddison
- 33ForresterBooked at 90mins
- 7Taylor
- 16BeautymanSubstituted forOztumerat 82'minutes
- 36Samuelsen
- 14WashingtonBooked at 83mins
- 24AngolSubstituted forCoulibalyat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Baldwin
- 10Oztumer
- 12Almeida Santos
- 18Fox
- 26Henry
- 28Coulibaly
- 37Nicholson
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 6,142
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamPeterborough
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 2, Peterborough United 0.
Post update
Jason Demetriou (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Conor Washington (Peterborough United).
Booking
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Chris Forrester (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Michael Smith (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Anthony Forde (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Smith (Peterborough United).
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 2, Peterborough United 0. George Evans (Walsall) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kieron Morris.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Kieron Morris replaces Jordan Cook.
Post update
Anthony Forde (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt saved. Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Delay in match Neil Etheridge (Walsall) because of an injury.
Booking
Conor Washington (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Peterborough United. Erhun Oztumer replaces Harry Beautyman.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 1, Peterborough United 0. Jason Demetriou (Walsall) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Forde.
Substitution
Substitution, Peterborough United. Souleymane Coulibaly replaces Lee Angol.
