Walsall ended Notts County's unbeaten start to the season with a narrow victory at Meadow Lane.

Magpies defender Dean Leacock spurned a great opportunity in the opening stages when he fired wide from close range.

Ashley Hemmings almost broke the deadlock but the Walsall forward's effort went inches wide of the post.

The visitors' winner came when Andy Butler turned in Ben Purkiss's free-kick, with substitute George Bowerman making sure it crossed the line.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Notts County manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"It's a frustrating afternoon. I think a lot of people came to the football club today thinking that we had a divine right that Walsall were going to roll over and let us take the three points.

"It was a professional performance by themselves, they had a gameplan to come here and frustrate us - they did that.

"We'll re-group quickly and we'll bounce back."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Notts County

  • 01 Bialkowski
  • 02 Kelly
  • 03 Sheehan (Waite - 89' )
  • 06 Leacock
  • 04 Bishop
  • 08 Liddle
  • 10 Judge
  • 11 J Hughes
  • 16 Labadie (Showunmi - 58' )
  • 28 Boucaud (Mahon - 78' )
  • 19 L Hughes Booked

Substitutes

  • 12 Mitchell
  • 17 Waite
  • 24 Wholey
  • 27 Regan
  • 14 Mahon
  • 18 Bencherif
  • 09 Showunmi

Walsall

  • 01 Grof
  • 04 Butler Booked
  • 05 Holden
  • 14 Purkiss
  • 25 Chambers
  • 06 Featherstone (Bowerman - 65' Booked )
  • 07 Chambers
  • 08 Cuvelier
  • 11 Hemmings
  • 09 Grigg
  • 10 Paterson

Substitutes

  • 23 Walker
  • 20 Benning
  • 22 Downing
  • 16 Jones
  • 24 Baxendale
  • 17 Bowerman
  • 19 Williams
Ref: Salisbury
Att: 5,851

Match Stats

Shots

18 10

On target

6 2

Corners

10 8

Fouls

13 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:44 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Hughes by Dean Holden. Alan Judge has an effort direct from the free kick, Jamie Paterson gets a block in.

90:00 +2:23

The ball is crossed by Alan Judge, Headed effort from inside the box by Enoch Showunmi misses to the right of the target.

90:00 +1:57

Tyrell Waite takes a shot. Save by David Grof.

90:00 +0:44

Jeff Hughes takes a shot. Save by David Grof.

88:27 Substitution

Substitution Alan Sheehan leaves the field to be replaced by Tyrell Waite.

88:27

The assistant referee flags for offside against Ashley Hemmings. Bartosz Bialkowski restarts play with the free kick.

87:38

Alan Judge takes a shot.

87:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neal Bishop by Adam Chambers. Gavin Mahon restarts play with the free kick.

85:57

The assistant referee signals for offside against George Bowerman. Free kick taken by Alan Sheehan.

85:31 Booking

Booking George Bowerman shown a yellow card.

85:23

George Bowerman is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.

84:22

Centre by Alan Judge, Dean Holden manages to make a clearance.

83:57 Booking

Booking Lee Hughes booked for unsporting behaviour.

83:36 Booking

Booking Andy Butler is shown a yellow card.

82:03

The ball is swung over by Enoch Showunmi, James Chambers manages to make a clearance.

81:12

The offside flag is raised against George Bowerman. Dean Leacock takes the free kick.

79:21

Ben Purkiss provided the assist for the goal.

79:21 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Butler - Notts Co 0 - 1 Walsall Andy Butler grabs a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Notts County 0-1 Walsall.

78:40

Foul by Alan Sheehan on Ashley Hemmings, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ben Purkiss.

78:03

Florent Cuvelier takes a shot. Bartosz Bialkowski makes a save.

76:43

Corner taken by Alan Sheehan from the left by-line, Jeff Hughes challenges Andy Butler unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

76:43 Substitution

Substitution (Notts County) makes a substitution, with Gavin Mahon coming on for Andre Boucaud.

76:43

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Alan Sheehan, Andy Butler fouled by Jeff Hughes, the ref awards a .

76:12

Jamie Paterson sends in a cross.

75:51

Jamie Paterson takes a shot. Blocked by Dean Leacock.

75:10

Jamie Paterson takes a shot. Neal Bishop gets a block in. Corner taken by Ashley Hemmings from the right by-line, save by Bartosz Bialkowski.

73:16

A cross is delivered by Alan Judge, Dean Holden gets a block in. Alan Judge takes a corner.

71:29

Shot from outside the box by George Bowerman goes wide right of the target.

71:18

The ball is swung over by Jamie Paterson, Andre Boucaud manages to make a clearance.

70:42

Julian Kelly sends in a cross, save by David Grof.

70:14

The ball is swung over by Ashley Hemmings, save by Bartosz Bialkowski.

68:30

The ball is swung over by Alan Judge, clearance by Andy Butler. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Alan Sheehan played to the near post, clearance by Andy Butler.

67:48

Julian Kelly delivers the ball, clearance by James Chambers. Inswinging corner taken by Alan Sheehan from the right by-line, David Grof makes a save.

66:13

Foul by Enoch Showunmi on Adam Chambers, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Andy Butler.

64:18 Substitution

Substitution George Bowerman is brought on as a substitute for Nicky Featherstone.

63:13

Alan Sheehan crosses the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Jeff Hughes misses to the right of the goal.

60:52

Neal Bishop is ruled offside. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

59:45

The ball is swung over by Nicky Featherstone, blocked by Julian Kelly. Jamie Paterson takes a inswinging corner.

58:53

Jamie Paterson fouled by Julian Kelly, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Butler takes the free kick.

57:19 Substitution

Substitution Enoch Showunmi replaces Joss Labadie.

57:03

Shot from just outside the area by Ashley Hemmings misses to the left of the target.

55:27

Neal Bishop has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

53:44

Lee Hughes is ruled offside. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

53:21

The ball is delivered by Joss Labadie, Dean Holden makes a clearance.

52:36

Jamie Paterson takes a long range shot clearing the crossbar.

52:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dean Holden by Lee Hughes. Indirect free kick taken by Dean Holden.

49:13

Cross/shot by Florent Cuvelier.

47:40

Alan Judge fouled by Adam Chambers, the ref awards a free kick. Bartosz Bialkowski restarts play with the free kick.

46:54

The ball is sent over by Jamie Paterson, Julian Kelly gets a block in. Corner taken by Jamie Paterson from the left by-line to the near post, Joss Labadie makes a clearance. Ashley Hemmings takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Joss Labadie manages to make a clearance.

46:09

Lee Hughes concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Purkiss. Free kick taken by David Grof.

45:51

Foul by Ashley Hemmings on Andre Boucaud, free kick awarded. Gary Liddle takes the free kick.

45:12

Effort on goal by Jeff Hughes from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:54 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:24

Jamie Paterson takes the inswinging corner, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Adam Chambers misses to the right of the target.

45:00 +0:20

Alan Sheehan concedes a free kick for a foul on Will Grigg. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Ashley Hemmings from right wing, clearance made by Bartosz Bialkowski.

44:51

Jeff Hughes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

42:56

Alan Sheehan takes a shot. Ben Purkiss gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

41:52

Dean Holden fouled by Lee Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by David Grof.

40:50

Unfair challenge on Florent Cuvelier by Jeff Hughes results in a free kick. David Grof takes the indirect free kick.

40:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jeff Hughes by James Chambers. Julian Kelly takes the indirect free kick.

39:44

Jamie Paterson crosses the ball.

36:46

The assistant referee signals for offside against Florent Cuvelier. Alan Sheehan restarts play with the free kick.

35:12

Corner from the right by-line taken by Alan Sheehan, Gary Liddle has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

34:58

Jeff Hughes takes a shot. James Chambers gets a block in.

34:43

Florent Cuvelier gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andre Boucaud. Andre Boucaud takes the free kick.

33:11

Andre Boucaud challenges Nicky Featherstone unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andy Butler takes the indirect free kick.

30:25

Lee Hughes is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Nicky Featherstone.

29:34

Foul by Adam Chambers on Andre Boucaud, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Gary Liddle.

26:51

Julian Kelly takes a shot. James Chambers gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Alan Sheehan from the right by-line to the near post, Andy Butler makes a clearance. Dean Leacock gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Butler. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

24:50

Jeff Hughes produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

24:23

Corner taken by Alan Sheehan from the right by-line, clearance made by Andy Butler.

23:42

Lee Hughes takes a shot. David Grof makes a save. Corner taken by Alan Sheehan from the right by-line played to the near post, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

21:24

Jeff Hughes challenges Ashley Hemmings unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Jamie Paterson from left channel, save by Bartosz Bialkowski.

21:06

Florent Cuvelier produces a cross, Dean Leacock manages to make a clearance.

21:06

Centre by Florent Cuvelier, Dean Leacock makes a clearance.

20:41

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Joss Labadie.

20:19

Jamie Paterson takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Bartosz Bialkowski.

20:07

The ball is crossed by Nicky Featherstone, clearance by Julian Kelly.

19:03

Long distance effort from Joss Labadie misses to the left of the goal.

16:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Florent Cuvelier on Alan Judge. Alan Judge takes the indirect free kick.

15:15

Alan Judge produces a cross.

15:15

Alan Judge crosses the ball.

12:31

Dean Leacock challenges Andy Butler unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Grof takes the indirect free kick.

11:50

Adam Chambers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan Judge. Alan Sheehan takes the free kick.

10:23

Adam Chambers has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

9:33

Ben Purkiss crosses the ball, Alan Sheehan manages to make a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by Florent Cuvelier from the right by-line, clearance by Neal Bishop.

6:50

Jeff Hughes takes a shot. Save by David Grof.

4:22

Julian Kelly sends in a cross, blocked by James Chambers. Corner taken left-footed by Alan Sheehan, clearance made by Andy Butler.

4:58

Effort from the edge of the area by Joss Labadie goes wide of the right-hand post.

4:22

Centre by Julian Kelly, blocked by James Chambers. Corner taken left-footed by Alan Sheehan, Andy Butler manages to make a clearance.

3:23

Alan Judge takes a shot. Save by David Grof.

0:00

The match begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association