Stanley 1-3 Walsall: Reds suffer first home defeat of the season

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Accrington Stanley lost their unbeaten home record this season following a 3-1 loss as Walsall went to the top of League Two.

Charlie Caton grabbed his second in two games but three second half Saddlers goal secured the win for the visitors.

There was just one change from the win over MK Dons with match winner Charlie Caton replacing the injured Tyler Walton. Anjola Popoola came onto the bench.

Former Stanley loan striker Aaron Pressley was in the Walsall starting XI.

The first real moment came from Isaac Heath on five minutes who raced down the left and played in a cross which Myles Roberts collected.

At the other end, Daniel Kanu's shot was easy for Ollie Wright on ten minutes while Charlie Lakin fired over eight minutes later in a start with limited goalmouth action.

The Reds appealed for hand ball in the area in the 21st minute but referee Ross Joyce waved them away.

Connor Barrett fired wide for the Saddlers while Everton loanee Heath went on another mazy run into the area but was denied by a last-ditch tackle on the half-hour.

Heath had Stanley's first shot on 32 minutes but his low drive was pushed away by Roberts.

The Reds pressed and Charlie Brown's long-range effort was parried out by the Saddlers keeper with Heath's follow-up denied by the foot of Roberts.

Stanley then enjoyed pressure around the Walsall box with Brown firing into the side netting.

After the break, Walsall had the first chance of the half on 52 minutes with Kanu bursting through but Wright raced out to deny him.

Stanley broke at pace at the other end with a foul on Charlie Caton denying him a chance of a shot and the resulting Caton free kick was deflected wide.

The Reds forced a spell of pressure around the visitor's box but were unable to find the breakthrough.

Walsall made a set-piece count on 62 minutes when Courtney Clarke's corner found the head of Aden Flint at the far post and the captain scored his first goal of the campaign.

Stanley pressed, putting a number of balls into the Walsall area, with Caton firing narrowly wide on 72 minutes.

However Walsall scored a second on 76 minutes when Kanu's shot deflected up into the area and ex-Red Pressley was there to head over the line.

The Reds tried to get back into it with Heath's strike save by Roberts on 89 minutes and then, in the second minute of added time, Charlie Brown's deep cross was headed in at the far post by Caton.

However Albert Adomah broke free and chipped the ball home to secure the win for the Saddlers.

Stanley: Wright, Smith, Matthews, Ward, Brown, Conneely (Coyle), Bauress (Popoola), Heath, Sinclair, Caton, J Woods (Henderson)

Subs: Kelly, Love, Grant, Martin

Crowd: 2448 (696 WFC)

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