Morecambe slip to first League Two defeat in five against Walsall

The Shrimps slipped to a first away defeat in five league games at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in League Two.

Morecambe started brightly, with plenty of possession and a Charlie Brown shot well blocked, while at the other end Archie Mair had to be alert to tip a drive from Isaac Hutchinson over the bar.

The Saddlers took the lead soon after. The resulting corner wasn’t properly cleared, and from the second phase a Hutchinson shot was blocked straight into the path of an unmarked Ross Tierney, who slotted home from 12 yards.

Brown saw another effort well blocked by Taylor Allen before the hosts doubled their lead on 26 minutes.

Josh Gordon managed to cross from the right under pressure from two Morecambe defenders, where Jamille Matt bundled home from close range at the back post.

Jordan Slew has a shot deflected inches wide and Joe Adams was denied by another excellent Walsall block, and Joel Senior had an effort straight at the keeper from range, all before half time.

After the break, the Shrimps started the second half on the front foot but couldn’t test Jackson Smith in the Walsall goal.

Morecambe were undone for a third time on 65 minutes.

Jamille Matt appeared to pull Chris Stokes to the ground on the edge of the area as he collected a pass from Jack Earing, before firing low against the post, only for debutant Manny Adegboyega to convert the rebound from close range.

Gwion Edwards could have won a penalty for the Shrimps in the closing stages, only for the referee to deem what appeared to be a clear pull back on the attacker in the area not to be a foul.

Walsall went close to a fourth nine minutes from time when substitute Douglas James-Taylor looked sure to score from close range but Tutonda produced a last-gasp block.

Walsall: Smith, Okagbue, Adegboyega, Allen, Knowles (Foukes, 86’), Hutchinson, Comley (Stirk, 61’), Tierney (Earing, 61’), L Gordon, Matt © (Fall, 77’), J Gordon (James-Taylor, 77’).

Subs not used: Evans, Riley.

Goals: Tierney (13’), Matt (26’) and Adegboyega (66').

Bookings: Comley, J Gordon, Knowles.

Morecambe: Mair, Tutonda, Bedeau ©, Adams, Larsson (C Smith, 66’), Senior, Stokes (Rawson, 83’), Taylor (Edwards, 56’), Slew (Melbourne, 83’), Brown, Khumbeni.

Subs not used: A Smith, Songo'o, Harrack.

Bookings: Stokes, Tutonda.

Attendance: 4,543 (109 away).