Match ends, Walsall 1, Carlisle United 2.
WalsallWalsall1CarlisleCarlisle United2
Harry McKirdy's stoppage-time header handed Chris Beech his first league win as Carlisle manager as the Cumbrians won at 10-man Walsall to move eight points clear of the drop.
Saddlers striker Elijah Adebayo cancelled out Nathan Thomas' opener but skipper James Clarke saw red for Walsall before McKirdy looped home a 94th-minute header.
United keeper Adam Collin made two fine first-half saves, foiling Caolan Lavery's close-range effort and pushing Mat Sadler's near-post flick onto the upright with Wes McDonald skying the rebound.
Carlisle went ahead on 52 minutes, Thomas firing into the bottom corner after his fierce initial strike had been saved by Liam Roberts.
Roberts then denied Thomas a second from a similar position before Walsall levelled on 70 minutes, Adebayo hooking in from close range after McDonald crashed a shot off the underside of the bar.
A clean-through McKirdy was then hauled back by last man Clarke for the 77th-minute dismissal but the midfielder had the last laugh, nodding Aaron Hayden's flick-on over a stranded Roberts at the death.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Roberts
- 24Facey
- 5J ClarkeBooked at 77mins
- 4Sadler
- 21Cockerill-MollettBooked at 84mins
- 15HoldenSubstituted forHardyat 66'minutes
- 20Bates
- 16Guthrie
- 25McDonald
- 9LaverySubstituted forAdebayoat 66'minutesSubstituted forJulesat 78'minutes
- 10Gordon
Substitutes
- 2Norman
- 11Adebayo
- 13Rose
- 17Hardy
- 30Gaffney
- 32Perry
- 33Jules
Carlisle
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Collin
- 14Jones
- 17Webster
- 6HaydenBooked at 48mins
- 3Iredale
- 10ScougallSubstituted forLoftat 45'minutes
- 8Jones
- 28Sagaf
- 11McKirdy
- 9Hope
- 7ThomasSubstituted forOlomolaat 90+5'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Mellish
- 15Charters
- 19Bridge
- 22Gray
- 24Olomola
- 25Loft
- 29Birch
- Referee:
- Ben Toner
- Attendance:
- 4,794
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamCarlisle
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home9
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Carlisle United 2.
Post update
Foul by Danny Guthrie (Walsall).
Post update
Aaron Hayden (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Carlisle United. Olufela Olomola replaces Nathan Thomas.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 1, Carlisle United 2. Harry McKirdy (Carlisle United) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Hayden with a headed pass.
Post update
Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Shay Facey.
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Gordon (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Danny Guthrie.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry McKirdy (Carlisle United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Iredale.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Cockerill-Mollett (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Mohammed Sagaf.
Post update
Josh Gordon (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mohammed Sagaf (Carlisle United).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nathan Thomas (Carlisle United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gethin Jones.
Post update
Foul by Josh Gordon (Walsall).
Post update
Aaron Hayden (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mohammed Sagaf (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nathan Thomas with a cross following a set piece situation.
Booking
Callum Cockerill-Mollett (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Callum Cockerill-Mollett (Walsall).
Post update
Nathan Thomas (Carlisle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
