Two late goals for Walsall denied Fleetwood Town a deserved point at the Bank’s Stadium, as they fell to a 4-2 defeat.

The game was heading for a 2-2 draw in the West Midlands, after Amari’i Bell had equalised for the Cod Army before Tyler Roberts and Daniel Agyei both struck in the final few minutes to seal all three points for the hosts.

It had been an exciting first half, with Jordy Hiwula putting Town ahead, but Walsall fought back to lead at half time with goals from Erhun Oztumer and Zeli Ismail, before Bell leveled shortly after the break.

Uwe Rosler made three changes to the line up from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers. Godswill Ekpolo, Ashley Hunter and Markus Schwabl came in for George Glendon, Devante Cole and Wes Burns who were all named on the bench.

Much of Saturday’s attacking play came on the counter attack and it was on the break that Fleetwood had the first effort of the match on a chilly evening in the West Midlands. Kyle Dempsey spearheaded the move, before he sprayed the ball wide to Bell who’s cross almost caught out Liam Roberts in the Walsall goal hitting the roof of the net.

Town were playing some nice attacking football with Dempsey next to let fly after being laid off by Godswill, but his strike flew just over the bar. 

The hosts were controlling the possession but did little to test Alex Cairns in the opening period, while Rosler’s side were making their time on the ball count. The Saddlers’ first venture into the Town box saw a cross wildly over-hit.

It was, unsurprisingly, a counter attack that saw Fleetwood open the scoring. It was Dempsey again who did all the hard work as his long pass across field found Godswill, who laid it off to Aiden O’Neill. The Australian’s shot was fumbled by Roberts, with Hiwula first to the ball to fire home from close range.

It did not take long for the hosts to level things up though, as Walsall won the ball in midfield, with Kieron Morris playing a low cross into the six yard box that was tapped in by midfielder Oztumer.

Town did not let Walsall’s quick response affect them and remained resilient as they continued to look dangerous on the counter attack. Roberts was forced into an acrobatic save as he denied Hiwula from 25 yards out.

The goalkeeper was forced into action just seconds later again as Hunter beat the offside trap, but he couldn’t beat L Roberts who came out early to deny the striker.

It was still Dempsey who was creating most of the Town’s attacking play, and Fleetwood should have restored their lead when his burst into the area before playing the ball across the area. However, under pressure from the defence, O’Neill couldn’t slide in.

It was the 40^th minute when Cairns had his reflexes tested for the first time as Jon Guthrie let rip from just outside the area. After the initial save, Cian Bolger was there to clear the danger.

This was a sign of things to come, as Walsall took the lead on the stroke of half time. With Fleetwood failing to clear, the hosts scored with a neatly worked set piece that allowed Ismail to fire home from just inside the penalty area.

Town remained unchanged at the break as the search for an equaliser began. Fleetwood were enjoying a good period of possession at the start of the second period, however had yet to test Walsall’s back line. Rosler brought on Cole in place of Baily Cargill to bolster options up front.

Town did finally get a second half chance, and it was Cole who was played through on goal but he forced another good save from L Roberts. However, from the corner, Fleetwood were to equalise as the ball came out to Bell from O’Neill. The defender hit it first time and slotted in through a host of bodies to make it 2-2.

With Town now looking for the win, Burns replaced Hunter up front and Schwabl made way for Glendon. Burns began well, looking for space down the right.

Morris came close for the hosts as his long-range strike forced Cairns to tip his strike over the bar, as the game began to even out. They then won a corner as they broke away on the counter and Cairns saved.

It was then Fleetwood’s turn to attack, as Burns whipped in a curler from the right hand side, but it was just wide of the mark.

By now, the result was hanging in the balance as the game edged into the final ten minutes.

All of Walsall’s play was coming through Morris and he was to frighten Town’s defence once more as he blazed over fro 25 yards, before Fleetwood, themselves had a chance denied by good defending from the hosts.

Town were to be denied a point in the cruelest of circumstances as Walsall grabbed a winner late on. T Roberts neat side foot into the net made in 3-2 in the 89^th minute, but Walsall weren’t finished.

In stoppage time, the hosts added a fourth goal to confirm the win when substitute Daniel Agyei broke the offside trap and fired past Cairns after neat through ball.

Walsall XI: L Roberts (GK), Leahy, Guthrie, Chambers ©, Oztumer (Agyei), Morris, Kinsella, T Roberts (Donnellan), Ismail (Flanagan), Bakayoko, K Roberts.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Devlin, Jackson, Kouhar.

Fleetwood XI: Cairns (GK), Bell, O’Neill, Eastham, Hiwula, Dempsey, Bolger ©, Godswill, Hunter (Burns), Schwabl (Glendon), Cargill (Cole).

Subs not used: Neal (GK), Maguire, Nadesan, Sowerby.

Referee: D Handley

Attendance: 3,225 (82 away)

Two late goals for Walsall denied Fleetwood Town a deserved point at the Bank’s Stadium, as they fell to a 4-2 defeat.

The game was heading for a 2-2 draw in the West Midlands, after Amari’i Bell had equalised for the Cod Army after Tyler Roberts and Daniel Agyei both struck in the final few minutes to seal all three points for the hosts.

It had been an exciting first half, with Jordy Hiwula putting Town ahead, but Walsall fought back to lead at half time with goals from Erhun Oztumer and Zeli Ismail, before Bell leveled shortly after the break.

Uwe Rosler made three changes to the line up from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers. Godswill Ekpolo, Ashley Hunter and Markus Schwabl came in for George Glendon, Devante Cole and Wes Burns who were all named on the bench.

Much of Saturday’s attacking play came on the counter attack and it was on the break that Fleetwood had the first effort of the match on a chilly evening in the West Midlands. Kyle Dempsey spearheaded the move, before he sprayed the ball wide to Bell who’s cross almost caught out Liam Roberts in the Walsall goal hitting the roof of the net.

Town were playing some nice attacking football with Dempsey next to let fly after being laid off by Godswill, but his strike flew just over the bar.

The hosts were controlling the possession but did little to test Alex Cairns in the opening period, while Rosler’s side were making their time on the ball count. The Saddlers’ first venture into the Town box saw a cross wildly over-hit.

It was, unsurprisingly, a counter attack that saw Fleetwood open the scoring. It was Dempsey again who did all the hard work as his long pass across field found Godswill, who laid it off to Aiden O’Neill. The Australian’s shot was fumbled by Roberts, with Hiwula first to the ball to fire home from close range.

It did not take long for the hosts to level things up though, as Walsall won the ball in midfield, with Kieron Morris playing a low cross into the six yard box that was tapped in by midfielder Oztumer.

Town did not let Walsall’s quick response affect them and remained resilient as they continued to look dangerous on the counter attack. Roberts was forced into an acrobatic save as he denied Hiwula from 25 yards out.

The goalkeeper was forced into action just seconds later again as Hunter beat the offside trap, but he couldn’t beat L Roberts who came out early to deny the striker.

It was still Dempsey who was creating most of the Town’s attacking play, and Fleetwood should have restored their lead when his burst into the area before playing the ball across the area. However, under pressure from the defence, O’Neill couldn’t slide in.

It was the 40^th minute when Cairns had his reflexes tested for the first time as Jon Guthrie let rip from just outside the area. After the initial save, Cian Bolger was there to clear the danger.

This was a sign of things to come, as Walsall took the lead on the stroke of half time. With Fleetwood failing to clear, the hosts scored with a neatly worked set piece that allowed Ismail to fire home from just inside the penalty area.

Town remained unchanged at the break as the search for an equaliser began. Fleetwood were enjoying a good period of possession at the start of the second period, however had yet to test Walsall’s back line. Rosler brought on Cole in place of Baily Cargill to bolster options up front.

Town did finally get a second half chance, and it was Cole who was played through on goal but he forced another good save from L Roberts. However, from the corner, Fleetwood were to equalise as the ball came out to Bell from O’Neill. The defender hit it first time and slotted in through a host of bodies to make it 2-2.

With Town now looking for the win, Burns replaced Hunter up front and Schwabl made way for Glendon. Burns began well, looking for space down the right.

Morris came close for the hosts as his long-range strike forced Cairns to tip his strike over the bar, as the game began to even out. They then won a corner as they broke away on the counter and Cairns saved.

It was then Fleetwood’s turn to attack, as Burns whipped in a curler from the right hand side, but it was just wide of the mark.

By now, the result was hanging in the balance as the game edged into the final ten minutes.

All of Walsall’s play was coming through Morris and he was to frighten Town’s defence once more as he blazed over fro 25 yards, before Fleetwood, themselves had a chance denied by good defending from the hosts.

Town were to be denied a point in the cruelest of circumstances as Walsall grabbed a winner late on. T Roberts neat side foot into the net made in 3-2 in the 89^th minute, but Walsall weren’t finished.

In stoppage time, the hosts added a fourth goal to confirm the win when substitute Daniel Agyei broke the offside trap and fired past Cairns after neat through ball.

Walsall XI: L Roberts (GK), Leahy, Guthrie, Chambers ©, Oztumer (Agyei), Morris, Kinsella, T Roberts (Donnellan), Ismail (Flanagan), Bakayoko, K Roberts.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Devlin, Jackson, Kouhar.

Fleetwood XI: Cairns (GK), Bell, O’Neill, Eastham, Hiwula, Dempsey, Bolger ©, Godswill, Hunter (Burns), Schwabl (Glendon), Cargill (Cole).

Subs not used: Neal (GK), Maguire, Nadesan, Sowerby.

Referee: D Handley

Attendance: 3,225 (82 away)