Walsall came from behind to secure an impressive victory over Preston.

North End took an early lead when Nicky Wroe found Joel Byrom unmarked and the midfielder nodded past debutant loan keeper Karl Darlow.

James Baxendale's chipped effort over Steve Simonsen brought the visitors level just before half-time.

George Bowerman put them ahead from the spot, after he had been tripped by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, and his powerful drive completed the comeback.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Walsall

  • 27 Darlow
  • 04 Butler
  • 05 Holden
  • 14 Purkiss
  • 26 Taylor
  • 06 Featherstone
  • 08 Cuvelier
  • 24 Baxendale (Taundry - 86' )
  • 09 Grigg (Downing - 90' )
  • 10 Paterson (Jones - 89' )
  • 17 Bowerman

Substitutes

  • 01 Grof
  • 02 Taundry
  • 22 Downing
  • 11 Hemmings
  • 16 Jones
  • 12 Brandy
  • 15 Taylor

Preston North End

  • 23 Simonsen
  • 03 Laird
  • 04 Huntington (Monakana - 46' )
  • 06 Cansdell-Sherriff
  • 21 Mousinho (Amoo - 81' )
  • 26 Wright
  • 08 Wroe
  • 13 Byrom Booked
  • 19 Welsh
  • 24 Hayhurst (Sodje - 35' )
  • 29 Beavon

Substitutes

  • 01 Stuckmann
  • 05 Robertson
  • 16 Buchanan
  • 17 Monakana
  • 22 King
  • 07 Amoo
  • 12 Sodje
Ref: Collins
Att: 4,189

Match Stats

Shots

14 8

On target

9 3

Corners

9 3

Fouls

4 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:46 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +0:35 Substitution

Substitution Will Grigg goes off and Paul Downing comes on.

90:00 +0:35

Foul by Florent Cuvelier on Jeffrey Monakana, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Laird. Effort on goal by John Welsh from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

88:37 Substitution

Substitution Jake Jones on for Jamie Paterson.

88:37

Corner from the left by-line taken by Richard Taundry, John Welsh makes a clearance.

87:39

Short corner worked by Jamie Paterson.

85:27 Substitution

Substitution (Walsall) makes a substitution, with Richard Taundry coming on for James Baxendale.

85:27

Jeffrey Monakana takes a shot. Florent Cuvelier gets a block in.

85:01

Bailey Wright fouled by George Bowerman, the ref awards a free kick. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff restarts play with the free kick.

83:52

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jamie Paterson, Bailey Wright manages to make a clearance.

80:31 Substitution

Substitution David Amoo comes on in place of John Mousinho.

79:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Laird on Will Grigg. Free kick taken by Jamie Paterson.

78:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by George Bowerman on Shane Cansdell-Sherriff. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.

77:59

Nicky Wroe has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

76:49

John Mousinho challenges Will Grigg unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Taylor.

76:24

Unfair challenge on James Baxendale by Scott Laird results in a free kick. Ben Purkiss restarts play with the free kick.

73:15

Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the right by-line, clearance by Andy Butler.

72:50

James Baxendale takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.

69:10

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joel Byrom.

66:26

Effort on goal by Dean Holden from just inside the area clears the bar.

64:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Mousinho on Will Grigg. Andy Taylor takes the direct free kick. Outswinging corner taken by Jamie Paterson, clearance made by Jeffrey Monakana.

64:32

Effort from inside the area by Joel Byrom misses to the left of the goal.

57:51 Goal scored

Goal - George Bowerman - Walsall 3 - 1 Preston George Bowerman scores a goal from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Walsall 3-1 Preston.

57:23

Nicky Wroe produces a cross, clearance by Jamie Paterson.

56:54

Nicky Featherstone takes a shot. Blocked by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

56:25

Foul by Akpo Sodje on Andy Butler, free kick awarded. Andy Taylor takes the free kick.

54:18 Goal scored

Goal - George Bowerman - Walsall 2 - 1 Preston George Bowerman scores a power penalty. Walsall 2-1 Preston.

53:31

Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on George Bowerman by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

51:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Butler by Akpo Sodje. Free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

49:31

George Bowerman is caught offside. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.

48:48

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jamie Paterson, clearance made by Jeffrey Monakana.

47:14

George Bowerman produces a cross, clearance made by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

46:40

Unfair challenge on Jamie Paterson by John Welsh results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Paterson.

46:19

George Bowerman is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jeffrey Monakana joins the action as a substitute, replacing Paul Huntington.

45:00 +2:00 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:17

Shot by Nicky Wroe from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

42:51

Unfair challenge on Dean Holden by Stuart Beavon results in a free kick. Karl Darlow takes the indirect free kick.

37:18

Will Grigg provided the assist for the goal.

37:18 Goal scored

Goal - James Baxendale - Walsall 1 - 1 Preston A goal is scored by James Baxendale from the edge of the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Walsall 1-1 Preston.

36:18

The referee penalises Nicky Featherstone for handball. Scott Laird restarts play with the free kick.

34:35 Substitution

Substitution (Preston) makes a substitution, with Akpo Sodje coming on for William Hayhurst.

31:22

Bailey Wright challenges James Baxendale unfairly and gives away a free kick. Florent Cuvelier fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Steve Simonsen. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jamie Paterson, clearance by Bailey Wright. Andy Butler takes a shot. Save made by Steve Simonsen.

29:59

Short corner taken by Jamie Paterson.

26:00

James Baxendale has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

25:19

Stuart Beavon is ruled offside. Andy Butler takes the free kick.

22:25

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jamie Paterson, Header by Andy Butler from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

21:35

Will Grigg takes a shot. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff gets a block in.

20:48

Florent Cuvelier produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

20:19

Foul by Stuart Beavon on Dean Holden, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Dean Holden.

17:23

Stuart Beavon takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow. Corner taken by Joel Byrom, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

16:37

The ball is crossed by Stuart Beavon, Dean Holden manages to make a clearance.

15:36

Foul by Stuart Beavon on Dean Holden, free kick awarded. Karl Darlow takes the indirect free kick.

15:08 Booking

Booking Joel Byrom receives a yellow card.

14:51

Jamie Paterson fouled by Joel Byrom, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Butler takes the free kick.

13:26

James Baxendale fouled by John Mousinho, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Purkiss takes the indirect free kick.

12:51

The ball is swung over by Nicky Featherstone.

12:10

George Bowerman takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Huntington. James Baxendale has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Blocked by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

11:14

William Hayhurst fouled by Florent Cuvelier, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Laird.

9:28

The assist for the goal came from Nicky Wroe.

9:28

Nicky Wroe provided the assist for the goal.

9:28 Goal scored

Goal - Joel Byrom - Walsall 0 - 1 Preston Joel Byrom finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Walsall 0-1 Preston.

5:14

The ball is swung over by Scott Laird, clearance made by Dean Holden.

4:34

The ball is swung over by Nicky Wroe.

3:07

George Bowerman is ruled offside. Steve Simonsen takes the indirect free kick.

2:01

Andy Butler takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson from the left by-line.

1:26

James Baxendale fouled by William Hayhurst, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Florent Cuvelier.

0:00

The match begins.

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