Match Report: Charlton 3 Walsall 1
Another Liam Roberts masterclass couldn’t prevent Walsall slipping to defeat against Charlton Athletic at The Valley as their poor away form continued.
Charlton’s Joe Aribo opened the scoring, but the hosts were pegged back by Erhun Otzumer’s header just before half-time.
A Korey Roberts own-goal and Stephy Mavididi’s close-range finish ensured Walsall suffered a 10th defeat of the season.
Walsall made one change after last week’s 2-1 win over Oxford United, with on-loan Tyler Roberts replacing Reece Flanagan on the flank.
Both teams found it tricky to gain any rhythm on a sodden pitch in the early stages.
Liam Roberts was called into action after 25 minutes to deny Josh Magennis after the attacker had burst clear on the left.
The Saddlers fell behind when Mark Marshall powered down the left and swung in a cross, which the unmarked Joe Aribo volleyed home at the far post.
The visitors were in danger of being blown away, as Mavidi turned Kory Roberts and lashed a 20-yard drive against the bar, before a full-stretch Liam Roberts denied Marshall.
Walsall survived the onslaught, and could have equalised but Ben Amos palmed away Tyler Roberts’ low shot.
The Saddlers punished Charlton for their profligacy when Luke Leahy’s cross picked out 5ft3in Otzumer to nod past Amos.
Minutes into the second half, Joe Edwards robbed Harry Lennon on the right, but couldn’t find Bakayoko in the box, and then hammered the loose ball against the bar.
Josh Magennis then found himself one-on-one, but Liam Roberts stood tall to block as the chances kept coming.
Walsall had their backs to the wall again, with Liam Roberts denying substitute Tarique Fosu and then Mavididi from close range.
The visitors could have taken the lead themselves from a corner, but Leahy’s flick-on was parried well by Amos.
Following a corner, Magennis header rattled the post and moments later Liam Roberts pulled off yet another magnificent save to deny Aribo.
Yet the keepers’ valiant rearguard action was finally breached on 73 minutes, when Mavididi surged in on goal and Kory Roberts could only poke the ball past his namesake in an attempt to avert the danger.
Walsall struggled to contain the Addicks’ rampant attacking quartet of Marshall, Fosu, Magennis and Mavididi, and it was the former who finally sealed all three points in the final minutes.
Once more he drove at pace through the Walsall defence and his weak toe-poke just about crept in at Liam Roberts’ near post.
