League Two: Walsall 2-4 Salford City
Leaders Salford win their seventh straight league game to end Walsall's unbeaten run and go six points clear
Salford striker Macaulay Langstaff opens scoring in 45th minute to give visitors half-time lead
Jorge Grant doubles the Ammies' lead nine minutes into second half
Aaron Pressley pulls a goal back for Walsall in 58th minute
Substitute Lewis Simper equalises for the Saddlers eight minutes later
Kallum Cesay puts Salford back in front just over a minute later
Adebola Oluwo scores Salford's fourth goal in the 82nd minute
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Image source, ShutterstockWhat a night!
We thought this would be a good one and Walsall v Salford did not disappoint.
You can read a report on our dedicated League Two pages as well as the latest news from the division.
We are back tomorrow to see if Barnet can close the gap at the top as they face York City along with some League One action.
Thanks for joining us and good night.
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Walsall
Image source, ShutterstockWalsall's unbeaten start to the season is over despite coming from 2-0 down at home to Salford.
Saddlers boss Lee Grant told Sky Sports:
"We saw two versions of us tonight - one I didn't like too much which started the game and we saw until we were 2-0 down.
"We gave away poor goals, the result is a fair one in my estimation. I'd have prefered to see more of the Walsall we've seen for large parts of the season.
"We can't be too downbeat, we've come a long way in a short space of time so I have to acknowledge that."
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Salford City
Image source, ShutterstockSalford make it seven successive wins to go six points clear at the top.
Ammies boss Peter Cklamokvski told Sky Sports:
"It was a very good game of football, credit to Walsall and an entertaining game for the neutral.
"In the first half we managed and controlled the game really well but in the second half there were a few moments where we opened the door for the opponents.
"We've left the door open for two moments and there are things to learn from for sure, but as a whole there's a lot of good stuff that we're building and we'll sharpen the blade and keep getting better."
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Great game and advert for EFL, credit both sides, Salford deserved winners 4-2. Top of League!
Martin, Manchester
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
One excellent side (Salford) and one very good side (Walsall) have given great entertainment tonight. Thank you both. UTS
Dave, Walsall
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Salford City
Macaulay Langstaff opened the scoring for Salford tonight.
He told Sky Sports:
"You can sign really good players but it takes time.
"We started the season slowly and lost the first three games but we knew once we got that first win we'd go on a run.
"It's seven wins in a row and nine unbeaten, we're on a great run but we always knew once we got that win we'd get on a run."
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
What a great game. I wouldn't usually watch anything below the Championship but I was very impressed by both teams, some quality football played with no histrionics, diving or whingeing and no VAR. Marvellous.
David, Sheffield
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Salford City
Image source, ShutterstockBrendan Wiredu won two big tackles to play a part in the opening couple of goals for Salford.
He told Sky Sports:
"I was brought in to be a dominant force in the midfield.
"I'm built for nights like this. I want to improve as I don't feel I had my best of games, but the most important thing was we extended our winning run."
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Gutted after such a good fight back and taking them on, head on. That was the trouble: caught cold for number 3 then trying to force the pace for an equaliser. Well tried, noble Saddlers. Love you forever.
Robert, Swansea
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesSalford now lead League Two by six points - not bad considering they lost their first three games.
Next up for the Ammies is a home game against Exeter.
Walsall miss the chance to go second and must prepare for a trip to Colchester on Saturday.
FT: Walsall 2-4 Salford
Thoroughly enjoyable game. Salford deserved the points.
Merche, Ipswich
What a fantastic advert for football. Also a great refereeing performance. End-to-end thriller. Well played to all involved 👏
Richard, Cambridge
Walsall 2-4 Salford
Image source, ShutterstockA highly entertaining game between two sides committed to attacking.
Salford were cruising at 2-0 through goals from Macaulay Langstaff and Jorge Grant only for Walsall to haul themselves back into it via good finishes from Aaron Pressley and Lewis Simper.
But within 70 seconds of Simper's equaliser the Saddlers were caught cold as Kallum Cesay restored the Ammies lead before Adebola Oluwo headed in a fourth.
Walsall's unbeaten start to the season is over while Salford go six points clear at the top of League Two with a seventh successive win - the rest of the division have been warned.
Walsall 2-4 Salford
Kallum Cesay tries another mazy run but is stopped by Declan Skura.
This will be the first time in their EFL history that Salford have won seven games on the spin.
Walsall 2-4 Salford
We will have at least seven minutes of time added at the end of this one.
Enjoyed it? OK, maybe not if you are a Walsall fan but your side have more than played their part.
Walsall 2-4 Salford
Daniel Udoh replaces Macaulay Langstaff for Salford.
What a squad they have got for League Two.
Walsall 2-4 Salford
Walsall did so well to get back into this but just switched off for Salford to go back in front within 70 seconds of the Saddlers equalising.
Their unbeaten record is about to go and the four goals they have conceded is more than half the number they had shipped in the previous 11 games.
Walsall 2-4 Salford
Sam Parkin
Former Walsall forward on Sky Sports
It was a firm header and the direction was perfect - it just kisses the woodwork.
Surely that is game, set, match Salford?
Adebola Oluwo (82 mins)
Image source, ShutterstockAnother substitute...
A Salford corner finds Adebola Oluwo climbing highest to head beyond Jed Ward.
A third substitute on the scoresheet tonight.
Walsall 2-3 Salford
Boy, have these teams delivered an outstanding game … and still 20 mins to go. A credit to both teams. League Two showing the big leagues how football should be played.
Scott, Devon
Walsall 2-3 Salford
Kallum Cesay goes on a weaving run to the edge of the Walsall area where he is dumped on his backside by James Connolly.
Three Salford men chat over who fancies the free kick - Luke Molyneux hits it into the Walsall wall with Andy Dallas getting it right in the face.
Macaulay Langstaff (right) opens the scoring for League Two leaders Salford City against Walsall
Leaders Salford City let slip a two-goal lead but still powered to a breathless 4-2 victory that ended Walsall's unbeaten start in League Two.
The Ammies flew out of the traps in search of a seventh-straight league win but it was a patient build-up that finally broke the deadlock in the 45th minute when Luke Molyneux's crisp punch into the right of the box was instinctively rifled low inside the far post by Macaulay Langstaff's fifth goal of the season.
The second arrived nine minutes into the second half when Brendan Wiredu dispossessed Courtney Clarke on the edge of Walsall's box before Jorge Grant thumped a well-struck shot inside the far post.
Tai Sodje's persistence down the right helped their hosts to hit back on 58 minutes, when he cashed on hesitancy from former Walsall defender Dan Scarr to cut back for Saddlers top scorer Aaron Pressley to slam in his ninth goal of the season.
Parity was then restored eight minutes later when left-back Mason Hancock's superb cross was headed home by Saddlers substitute Lewis Simper.
The hosts' joy was shortlived though, when Salford went back in front just 71 seconds later as Langstaff laid off for Kallum Cesay to fire past keeper Jed Ward from close range.
The game was up with eight minutes to go when Molyneux's outswinging corner was powered inside the near post by Adebola Oluwo - to end this season's only remaining unbeaten record in the top four divisions.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Walsall boss Lee Grant told BBC Radio WM:
"They are certainly the best team we have played. But we gave away poor goals.
"We didn't approach the game with the mentality that we were ready to go and attack it.
"Strangely, we will now maybe believe in ourselves a bit more having had good opportunities.
"You have to be consistent in that and you have to defend the goal better than we did."
Salford boss Peter Cklamovski:
"It was disappointing to leave the door open for the two goals but overall it was another strong team performance.
"We came out of the blocks at the start. It was really good to see the players being positive and brave.
"There was a short period in the first half when they got a bit of momentum without hurting us. Getting the reward late in the first half was fair enough.
"We managed the second half really well until we left the door open but we had the composure and maturity to settle the game. The players worked really hard to get the job done."
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 28 |
| |
| 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 22 |
| |
| 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 21 |
| |
| 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 21 |
| |
| 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 20 |
| |
| 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 19 |
| |
| 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 19 |
| |
| 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 18 |
| |
| 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 18 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 17 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 17 |
| |
| 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 16 |
| |
| 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 16 |
| |
| 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 15 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 15 |
| |
| 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 17 | -2 | 14 |
| |
| 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| |
| 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 12 |
| |
| 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 12 |
| |
| 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 12 |
| |
| 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 12 |
| |
| 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 21 | -9 | 6 |
|
Manager:Lee Grant
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Manager:Peter Cklamovski
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager:Lee Grant
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Manager:Peter Cklamovski
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
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