Match ends, Walsall 3, Colchester United 0.
WalsallWalsall3ColchesterColchester United0
Otis Khan scored two and set up another on his first home league start for Walsall as they brushed aside struggling Colchester 3-0.
Khan, signed as a free agent in October, put the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute, arriving in the six-yard box to tap home Brendan Kiernan's teasing low cross.
Walsall almost handed Colchester an equaliser on the half-hour but goalkeeper Carl Rushworth's instinctive save stopped George Miller heading a free-kick into his own net.
Khan doubled Walsall's lead a minute later, lashing Stephen Ward's cross first time past Jake Turner at his near post from 12 yards.
Walsall enjoyed a let-off after the break, with Rushworth spilling Junior Tchamadeu's drive onto a post before the ball trickled along the line and back into his grasp.
Rushworth stayed big to smother from Freddie Sears and Walsall settled matters in the 66th minute, Khan cushioning Miller's diagonal ball for Jack Earing to squeeze a header under Turner.
Walsall could have added a fourth but Turner tipped over a Miller header as they moved 12th while Colchester dropped to 20th.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Rushworth
- 2White
- 5Taylor
- 24Menayese
- 3WardBooked at 78mins
- 17Earing
- 8Kinsella
- 21Khan
- 10OsadebeSubstituted forPhillipsat 75'minutes
- 7KiernanSubstituted forPerryat 79'minutes
- 11MillerSubstituted forWillockat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Rose
- 15Phillips
- 18Leak
- 20Perry
- 22Mills
- 23Sadler
- 32Willock
Colchester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Turner
- 22Tchamadeu
- 4Chambers
- 5Smith
- 23Daniels
- 8Skuse
- 6Sarpong-Wiredu
- 17Jasper
- 10JudgeSubstituted forMcCoulskyat 68'minutes
- 7HannantSubstituted forDobraat 68'minutes
- 11Sears
Substitutes
- 1Gerken
- 15McCoulsky
- 18Eastman
- 19Dobra
- 27Coxe
- 31Thomas
- 37Cooper
- Referee:
- Martin Coy
- Attendance:
- 4,065
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamColchester
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 3, Colchester United 0.
Post update
Foul by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu (Colchester United).
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Otis Khan (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Cole Skuse (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Earing (Walsall).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Shay Willock replaces George Miller.
Post update
Offside, Walsall. Otis Khan tries a through ball, but George Miller is caught offside.
Post update
Armando Dobra (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Liam Kinsella (Walsall).
Post update
Tommy Smith (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Hayden White (Walsall).
Post update
Foul by Shawn McCoulsky (Colchester United).
Post update
Rollin Menayese (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. George Miller (Walsall) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Otis Khan with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jake Turner.
Post update
Attempt saved. George Miller (Walsall) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kieran Phillips with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Sam Perry replaces Brendan Kiernan.
Booking
Stephen Ward (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Armando Dobra (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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