Walsall 3 Shrewsbury Town 2 - Report and pictures

[gallery] In a game that had it all at the Banks's Stadium, brave Shrewsbury Town trudged off after a late goal meant they slipped to a 3-2 defeat.

Analysis

After a drab half hour, the match clicked into life and had everything.

Two red cards, penalties given then ruled out, offside goals, a winner straight from the corner flag, heroic defending, brilliant atmosphere - it was a feast of football at Bescot.

Walsall, without a game last week due to international call-ups, were struggling to get going after a 10-day break. But the hosts, with just one defeat in six, were clearly trying to keep the football on the deck and play around Shrewsbury.

While the visitors, starting with six foot four inch forward George Waring for the second consecutive game, looked to use the on-loan Stoke man's presence to launch direct attacks.

In truth, both sides were failing to get their game going, and a dreadfully scrappy opening 20

minutes did little to inspire the supporters inside the Banks's Stadium.

Both sides were missing their focal points and talismen. Ivan Toney was suspended for an accumulation of five yellow cards, while five-goal forward Simeon Jackson picked up a groin strain on Canada duty.

But Jackson's replacement, Walsall academy graduate Amadou Bakayoko, marked his first league start with a fine finish to break the deadlock midway through the half. He was delightfully played in by creator-in-chief Erhun Oztumer - and the forward finishes powerfully.

It was what the hosts deserved. Salop spent five or 10 minutes clinging on and showing little ambition going forward.

But, ironically after skipper Adam El-Abd went off injured, his replacement - ex-Walsall boy Olly Lancashire - hauled Coyne's side level 10 minutes later with a looping header. His first goal for the club.

The barely deserved equaliser shook Walsall and Salop's confidence grew. The visitors saw more of the ball in defensive areas but the ambition remained to look long towards the towering figure of Waring.

Walsall edged back ahead at consummate ease. After a stagnated tagmated period, Frank Moussa turned on the burners, set in Joe Edwards - his shot was blocked by Leutwiler - but some comical marking in the six yard box allowed Kieron Morris to scrappily prod home.

Just like last week at Bradford. A second-half improvement was needed, and Salop provided it.If the first 30 minutes were dull as dishwater, then the final hour was breathless and a fine advertisement for League One football - if not tight defending.

Lancashire should've grabbed his second with a carbon copy chance from a Black free-kick, but nodded wastefully wide with the goal gaping.

Joe Riley then sent a firecracker of a volley inches wide of Neil Etheridge's post before Antoni Sarcevic tests the shot-stopper.

Oztumer, the best player on the pitch, robbed Abu Ogogo from a short goal kick and went one-on-one with Leutwiler - somehow placing wastefully wide.

But as we approached the hour mark. The away end to my right was sent into raptures. Etheridge was woeful from a corner, missing his punch, Salop won the first header and Junior Brown was on-hand to bundle home. Setting the scene for celebrations unlike any Town have seen this season.

All of the wind was in Salop's sails and Mangan looked to have turned it on its head with a low finish but was ruled offside.

Real drama followed as Shrewsbury seemed to be awarded for a penalty as Waring was bundled over, referee Nicholas Kingsley pointed to the spot, but his assistant overruled the decision for offside.

Things was getting heated and Saddlers old boy Ryan McGivern paid the price. A second yellow to make it Town's fourth red card of the campaign.

Ogogo, who was immense is throwing himself into every block, almost found himself in the headlines but after reaching the penalty spot, his shot was blocked, before Sarcevic wasted another decent opening.

Now with 10-men, Salop's ascendency was curtailed and the hosts took control again, but some fine, fine defending as a unit kept the hosts at bay. The number of blocks going well into the dozens.

When the ball did fall to Moussa, he lashes an effort inches wide.

For all their fine defending, a Saddlers winner came with two minutes to play, in bizarre circumstances.

Oztumer's corner seemed to be put in by Bakayoko, the youngster jumped into the crowd and was dismissed for a second yellow amid confusion. It then seemed to have gone straight in from the corner. Either way, Saddlers were also down to 10.

Key moments

22 - WALSALL GOAL. Fine ball from Oztumer releases Bakayoko who powers finish beyond Leutwiler.

30 - SHREWSBURY GOAL. Sub Lancashire, on for El-Abd, loops in header to equalise against former club.

42 - WALSALL GOAL. Hosts lead again. Leutwiler blocked shot, ball fell to Kieron Morris who prodded home a scrappy second.

56 - Oztumer should score, places wide from a one-on-one. Should score and put the game beyond Salop

58 - GOAL SHREWSBURY - Etheridge mucks up a corner, misses his punch and the ball falls for Brown who bundles it over the line. Cue chaos in the Shrewsbury end.

63 - Salop awarded a penalty as Waring is bundled over! Only for the assistant to overrule the ref and pull it up for offside.

65 - McGIVERN RED - Defender dismissed for second yellow against former side. It had been coming.

88 - WALSALL GOAL. Straight from a corner, Oztumer finds the net, striker Bakayoko shown a second yellow for jumping into the crowd. Madness.