Doncaster 0 Walsall 3 - Report and pictures

Jon Whitney’s side, who also registered their first clean sheet of the season, scored all their goals after the interval in what was a hugely impressive second half display.

Oztumer netted his first just past the hour mark after Tyler Roberts brilliantly stole possession from Joe Wright.

Five minutes later, Walsall’s top scorer had his second when he slotted home following Joe Edwards' driven run into the box.

The Saddlers then wrapped up the points in the 80th minute when substitute Kieron Morris emphatically fired in for his first the campaign.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney made one change from the team that draw at MK Dons on Tuesday.

Having been surprisingly left out for the trip to Buckinghamshire, talisman Erhun Oztumer was recalled with Kieron Morris the man to make way.

It meant the Saddlers lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Oztumer wide right and Ama Bakayoko wide left.

Doncaster lined up in a 3-5-2 formation that saw John Marquis partner Liam Mandeville up front. Former Saddler Andy Butler was at the heart of the back three.

In blustery conditions, it was the home side who started the brighter of the two teams with Darren Ferguson’s men creating a number of half chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Tommy Rowe cut into the box before seeing a strike well blocked by a diving Luke Leahy. Harry Toffolo then headed straight at Mark Gillespie following a Niall Mason cross.

The two teams began the day just one place and one point apart in League One.

And while it was Doncaster who looked the more lively as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark, neither side were creating anything of note.

That all changed though on the stroke of half-time when Rovers missed a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock.

The lively Rowe tricked his way to the edge of the box before curling a strike against the base of the post.

But the ball fell kindly for Marquis who - with the entire goal at his mercy – side-footed wide when all he had to do was tap it into the net.

Walsall began the second half with the wind now in their favour but it was the home side who threatened first with Mandeville scuffing a volley towards goal from a corner.

With the game still proving largely uneventful, Ferguson made a double change in the 55th minute with Rodney Kongolo and James Coppinger replacing Mathieu Baudry and Mandeville.

And the move almost proved an inspired one when just moments later Kongolo found Rowe in the box with the midfielder turning sharply before seeing a strike well blocked by Adam Chambers.

It was Walsall though who broke the deadlock on the hour mark thanks to a huge helping hand from Joe Wright.

Despite being under pressure from Roberts, the defender tried to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick only for the striker to slide in and retrieve possession.

The Albion loanee then got to his feet quickest to find Oztumer who jinked his way past the keeper before firing in from close range.

Incredibly, just five minutes later, Oztumer grabbed his and his team’s second.

A brilliant Joe Edwards run saw the midfielder dart towards goal with Roberts giving him an option to his left and Oztumer to his right.

And the former Yeovil man opted to play in the Saddlers top scorer who once again slotted the ball home from close range.

From that point, Doncaster looked to try and find a way back into the game.

But Walsall were defending outstandingly well with both the midfield and defence working together in perfect unison.

The home side almost grabbed one back when Ben Whitman curled a low drive towards goal that a diving Gillespie pushed around the post.

But it was the Saddlers who deserved the points.

And a minute later Whitney’s men put the game to bed with some brilliant work from Bakayoko teeing up substitute Morris.

The striker pounced on a defender’s mistake just inside the Doncaster half before turning sharply and playing his team mate through on goal.

And Morris made no mistake with the 23-year-old emphatically firing past Ian Lawlor and into the roof of the net.

Key moments

7 Tyler Roberts tricks his way past two to win a free-kick in the edge of the Doncaster box but Erhun Oztumer’s delivery sails out of play.

13 Tommy Rowe does brilliantly to take down a long ball forward before bursting into the box and seeing a strike well blocked by Luke Leahy.

15 Harry Toffolo's tame far-post header from Niall Mason's cross is easy for Mark Gillespie.

16 Mason’s long ball is met by a stretching John Marquis but he can’t direct the ball on target.

24 Andy Butler heads off target from Toffolo's deep corner.

34 Ben Whitmen fires wide from 20-yards.

37 Amadou Bakayoko heads a Joe Edwards free-kick well wide.

39 Tyler Roberts shows some nice feet in the box before lifting a cross-come-shot over the bar.

45 Rowe tricks his way to the edge of the box before curling a strike against the ball of the post. But the ball falls for Marquis who should tap it home but fluffs his lines and side foots wide.

47 Liam Mandevillie scuffs a volley at goal from a corner which Gillespie claims comfortably.

55 Joe Edwards’ cross-shot curls wide of the far post.

57 Rodney Kongolo finds Rowe who turns sharply in the box before seeing a strike well blocked by Adam Chambers.

62 GOAL WALSALL! Roberts steals possession from Joe Wright on the byline before finding Oztumer in the box who jinks his way past the keeper before firing home.

67 GOAL WALSALL! A brilliant Joe Edwards run ends with the midfielder slipping in Oztumer who again slots the ball into the back of the net.

79 Ben Whiteman's shot from the edge of the box is tipped wide by Gillespie.

80 GOAL WALSALL Bakayoko pounces on a defender’s mistake before teeing up Kieron Morris who emphatically fires home.

Teams

Doncaster: Lawlor, Mason (Alcock 59), Wright, Butler, Baudry (Kongolo 55), Toffolo, Houghton, Whiteman, Rowe, Mandeville (Coppinger 55), Marquis.

Subs not used: Marosi, Garratt, Beestin, Khemis.

Walsall: Gillespie, Leahy, Wilson, Guthrie, Kinsella, Chambers, Edwards, Cuvelier (Morris 67), Bakayoko, Oztumer (Donnellan 77), Roberts (Agyei 85).

Subs not used: L. Roberts, Flanagan, Kouyhar, Ismail.

Position

League One: 14th