Shrewsbury 0 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

Amadou Bakayoko pounced into added time to send the Saddlers above Paul Hurst's 10-man Town after a largely drab affair.

Shrewsbury lost at the Meadow for the first time this season after Ben Godfrey had been sent off midway through the second-half for the hosts after a lunge on Luke Leahy.

While Town still qualify as runners-up in the northern Group E, they will have to cope with an away tie in the round of 32 knockout tie, which is drawn on Friday.

Hurst opted for a change of shape for the final Trophy group game. The boss selected a 3-5-2 system, with central midfielder Ben Godfrey joining Mat Sadler and Omar Beckles in defence. Toto Nsiala was rested.

Joe Riley and Alex Rodman were used as wing-backs. Arthur Gnahoua was brought in to start alongside skipper Abu Ogogo - as the duo joined Bryn Morris in central midfield.

Lenell John-Lewis was the third and final change, the frontman partnered Stefan Payne in attack.

Jon Nolan missed due to a hip complaint, with Dean Henderson away on international duty.

Town had enjoyed wins against fellow Group E sides Coventry and West Bromwich Albion under-23s earlier in the competition.

It was the Saddlers who made a flying start to the match with Whitney’s men twice coming close to opening the scoring inside the first five minutes.

First, a left-wing cross worked its way through to Zeli Ismail who cut inside a defender before arrowing a low drive at goal which Craig McGillivray brilliantly tipped onto the post.

Then just moments later, Bakayoko produced a smart turn to escape the attentions of Bryn Morris in the box before sending a fierce drive inches past the upright.

Walsall had started like a steam train. But steadily, Shrewsbury began to find their rhythm with Bryn Morris whipping in a dangerous corner that flew across the six-yard box but had nobody on hand to tap it home.

The game was now proving an even encounter with Town threatening once again when Arthur Gnahoua sent a left-footed drive inches past the post from 20-yards.

Walsall hit back with Kouhyar seeing a scuffed strike blocked by a defender after Jon Guthrie had nodded Kieron Morris’ deep free-kick back into the danger area.

From that point on the game became more cagey with the two teams largely cancelling each out.

But it was Hurst’s men who finished the half the stronger of the two teams and they came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock just before the interval.

A swift counter saw Payne latch onto a Gnahoua through-ball with the former Barnsley man entering the box but seeing his shot well beaten away by Roberts.

Town though managed to keep the move alive with Alex Rodman seeing a strike blocked before Joe Riley whistled a strike past the post from 20-yards.

Hurst changed the formation to a more recognisable 4-4-2 formation at half time with Godfrey shifting to right back and Riley moving over to the left side.

It took 17 minutes of the second half to see a shot on goals as Maz Kouhyar’s drive was smartly pushed away by MacGillivary.

There were some groans from the home fans as Shrewsbury seemed reluctant to play the ball forward.

Hurst threw on Shaun Whalley and Carlton Morris in John Lewis and Rodman to bring fresh energy to the team.

It looked to have an effect as Whalley crossed for Payne who hooked a shot just wide but never troubled Liam Roberts in the Walsall net.

There was little else to shout about until the 76th minute when Godfrey was given a straight red card for a nasty lunge on Luke Leahy. Referee Trevor Kettle didn’t hesitate in giving the defender his marching orders and there were no real complaints from the Shrewsbury players.

It was Town’s second red card in the competition this season following James Bolton’s at Coventry City.

Town brought on 17 year-old Shelis secure things up at the back following the dismissal, meanwhile, the Saddlers brought on top scorer Erhun Oztumer as they looked to make the most of their man advantage.

As the clocked ticked to 90 minutes, Whalley forced a save from Roberts but the Saddlers went straight down the other end a netted the other end and scored the group winning goal courtesy of Bakayoko’s header.

Teams

Shrewsbury: MacGillivray, Riley, Godfrey, Sadler, Beckles, Ogogo, Gnahoua, John-Lewis (C.Morris 68), B Morris (Shelis 82), Rodman (Whalley 68), Payne.

Subs not used: Gregory, Dodds, Adams, Gallagher.

Walsall: Roberts, Kinsella, Guthrie, Wilson, Leahy (Devlin 82), Chambers, Edwards (Oztumer 84), Morris, Kouhyar (Flanagan 72), Ismail, Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Jackson, Donnellan, Agyei.

Referee: Trevor Kettle