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Oxford United 1 Walsall 2 - Report and pictures

Goals from Morgan Ferrier and Zeli Ismail saw Walsall return to winning ways in League One with a 2-1 win at Oxford.

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In what was a thoroughly professional display from Dean Keates’ side, the Saddlers responded impressively to their loss against Doncaster last weekend.

Ferrier opened the scoring in the first half and also saw an effort not given after he headed against the bar and seemingly over the line.

Ismail doubled the Saddlers advantage shortly after the re-start.

From that point Keates’ men managed the game superbly until the 87th minute when Karl Henry prodded home to set up a nervy finish.

Oxford then had an appeal for a penalty waved away in stoppage time. Overall though, it was Walsall who deserved to claim all three points.

Analysis

After tasting defeat in the league for the first time last weekend, Keates opted to make two changes to his starting line-up for the trip to Oxfordshire.

Sticking with a 4-4-2 formation, Josh Gordon came in up front at the expense of Andy Cook who had to make do with a place on the subs bench.

Zeli Ismail was also fit to start after recovering from a minor hamstring problem.

Oxford, under the guidance of Karl Robinson, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Sam Smith the lone forward, James Henry in the number 10 role and Ricky Holmes and Gavin Whyte on the wings.

In what proved a cagey opening 20 minutes, it was Walsall who started marginally the brighter of the two teams.

Chances though proved few and far between with both teams only threatening from set-pieces.

It was the hosts who created the game’s first chance with John Mousihno powering a volley inches wide after he connected with a Holmes free-kick.

Walsall then responded with Jon Guthrie meeting a George Dobson corner. But the defender couldn’t get enough power on his header with the ball then comfortably claimed by Jonathan Mitchell in the U’s goal.

The Saddlers threatened again with a corner routine straight from the training ground ending with Ismail seeing a low drive from 10-yards claimed by the keeper.

Midway through the half though, Walsall did get their noses in front.

Gordon's long ball forward saw Ferrier race in behind by the Oxford defence.

Time then seemed to stand still with the entire U’s back for stopping as they waited for linesman to flag for offside.

But that decision never arrived with Ferrier then entering the box before squeezing the ball through the legs of Mitchell and into the net.

Oxford almost pulled level immediately with Liam Roberts producing heroics to keep his side in the lead.

Another dangerous Holmes free-kick was met by Curtis Nelson but the defender’s header, from just six-yards, was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the Saddlers keeper.

Robinson’s men - desperate to avoid another defeat - seemed intent to get on terms as soon as possible and they came a whisker away again just moments later when Smith met a corner.

The striker's header was nodded off the line by George Dobson with Walsall then just about getting the ball away following an anxious goal-mouth scramble.

From that point, the half proved relatively even but with the Saddlers missing an unbelievable chance to extend their lead.

After Ismail hit the byline, his cross was fired against the post by Gordon.

But the ball then fell kindly for Ferrier who powered a striker against a bar and seemingly over the line.

But referee Alan Young waved play on despite wild protests from the Walsall bench.

The game continued to be fairly even in the opening stages of the second half.

But just before the hour mark the Saddlers doubled their advantage with a brilliant counter-attack.

Isaiah Osbourne initially won the ball in the middle of the park before finding Gordon who galloped towards goal.

The forward had Ismail running one way and Ferrier the other. But he opted for the former Wolves man who entered the box before drilling a strike into the bottom corner.

Again Oxford responded well to conceding with Gavin Whyte powering in a cross-come-shot which Henry flicked wide.

Henry then glanced a header wide from a corner.

Walsall though were looking dangerous every time they went forward with Ismail, Ginnelly and Ferrier all lively.

And they came a whisker away from extending their lead further when Ferrier headed a dangerous Ismail cross against the top of the crossbar.

With the rain now lashing down, Jon Obika sent a header over from a Luke Garbutt cross for the hosts.

Keates then opted to make his first change in the 75th minute with Kane Wilson replacing Ismail. Cook was then introduced for Gordon.

Walsall were managing the game expertly with the U’s creating very little.

But they set up a nervy finish when Henry poked home from close range in the 87th minute to give his side a chance of getting something out of the game.

The Saddlers then survived a scare in stoppage time when Rob Dickie tumbled over in the box.

But they held on from that point to claim a deserved victory.

Teams

Oxford: Mitchell, Norman, Garbutt, Nelson, Hanson (Ruffels 84), Smith (Obika 57), Holmes, Mousinho, Whyte, Henry, Baptiste.

Subs not used: Shearer, Dickie, Raglan, Long.

Walsall: Roberts, Leahy, Guthrie, Fitzwater, Devlin, Ginnelly, Osbourne, Dobson, Ismail (Wilson 75), Ferrier, Gordon (Cook 78).

Subs not used: Dunn, Johnson, Kinsella, Morris, Ronan.