Walsall 2-1 Stevenage

Walsall pulled off their first home win since the opening day of the season to beat Stevenage at the Banks's Stadium.

Ashley Hemmings set up Romaine Sawyers' side-footed opener on 11 minutes.

James Baxendale then released Craig Westcarr after the restart to make it 2-0, hammering a low left-footed shot for his seventh goal of the season.

Francois Zoko pulled one back on 72 minutes when keeper Richard O'Donnell dropped Luke Freeman's cross, but Boro then had Lucas Akins sent off late on.

The Stevenage striker received his marching orders in the 80th minute for punching Saddlers defender Paul Downing after the ball had gone, referee Andy Madley producing the red card after consulting with his fourth official.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio:

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Post-match: Stevenage boss Westley

"Several of the lads were very unwell. When food poisoning hits your camp, it's difficult.

"Take nothing away from the opposition, they worked hard for the points. We were way short in the first half and I think it's understandable with the level of sickness we have had in the side.

On Akins' red card: "There was an arm to the body when he was trying to break free from a headlock.

"I think he [the fourth official] got the needle because I threw a ball on the pitch, and the next minute I'm having a player sent off and no one else had seen the incident."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Walsall

• 1O'Donnell
• 15Chambers
• 3TaylorBooked at 74mins
• 8Mantom
• 4Butler
• 12Downing
• 16BaxendaleSubstituted forGrayat 88'minutes
• 7Chambers
• 10Westcarr
• 25SawyersSubstituted forHewittat 84'minutes
• 11HemmingsSubstituted forLalkovicat 88'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Purkiss
• 6Featherstone
• 9Lalkovic
• 13Lewis
• 14Benning
• 24Hewitt
• 27Gray

Stevenage

• 16Day
• 22GrayBooked at 58minsSubstituted forDunneat 62'minutes
• 29HartleyBooked at 23minsSubstituted forAndradeat 46'minutes
• 20Smith
• 5Ashton
• 6Jones
• 7Morais
• 24DoughtySubstituted forTanseyat 45+1'minutes
• 12Zoko
• 11AkinsBooked at 80mins
• 15Freeman

Substitutes

• 1Arnold
• 2Wedgbury
• 8Dunne
• 10Burrow
• 13Parrett
• 17Tansey
• 25Andrade

Referee:

Andy Madley

Attendance:

3,720

Match Stats

Home TeamWalsallAway TeamStevenage

Possession

Home53%

Away47%

Shots

Home18

Away6

Shots on Target

Home6

Away2

Corners

Home5

Away7

Fouls

Home7

Away14

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Walsall 2, Stevenage 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Walsall 2, Stevenage 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Luke Jones.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt blocked. Craig Westcarr (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Luke Jones.

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt saved. Julian Gray (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jimmy Smith.

Posted at 90'+1'

Craig Westcarr (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Greg Tansey (Stevenage).

Posted at 90'

Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Greg Tansey (Stevenage).

Posted at 89'

Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).

Posted at 89'

Francois Zoko (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Walsall. Milan Lalkovic replaces Ashley Hemmings.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Walsall. Julian Gray replaces James Baxendale.

Posted at 85'

Attempt missed. Craig Westcarr (Walsall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.

Posted at 85'

Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Jimmy Smith (Stevenage).

Substitution

Posted at 84'

Substitution, Walsall. Troy Hewitt replaces Romaine Sawyers.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Sam Mantom (Walsall).

Posted at 82'

Francois Zoko (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Dismissal

Posted at 80'

Lucas Akins (Stevenage) is shown the red card for fighting.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. James Chambers (Walsall) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.

Booking

Posted at 74'

Andy Taylor (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Andy Taylor (Walsall).

Posted at 74'

Bruno Andrade (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 72'

Goal! Walsall 2, Stevenage 1. Francois Zoko (Stevenage) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Andy Taylor.

Posted at 68'

Craig Westcarr (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Jimmy Smith (Stevenage).

Posted at 63'

Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).

Posted at 63'

Francois Zoko (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 62'

Substitution, Stevenage. James Dunne replaces David Gray.

Posted at 62'

Attempt missed. James Chambers (Walsall) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 61'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by David Gray.

Posted at 61'

Attempt saved. Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 58'

Attempt missed. Andy Taylor (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Booking

Posted at 58'

David Gray (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 58'

Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 58'

Foul by David Gray (Stevenage).

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