Walsall 2-1 N Forest

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Striker Darren Wrack left it late to snatch victory for Walsall at the Bescot Stadium after a strong Nottingham Forest comeback.

In a high-tempo affair, the Saddlers looked to have been denied the win when David Prutton cancelled out Danny Sonner's penalty seven minutes from time.

But they refused to let-up and a minute into injury time Walsall grabbed their reward when Wrack side-footed home from close range.

Walsall were quick into their stride and after just 10 seconds they were denied an opener by the narrowest of margins.

From a corner, Fitzroy Simpson curled the flag-kick into the box and having leaped highest to head powerfully at goal, Zigor Aranalde saw his effort cannon off the woodwork.

Six minutes later Aranalde was involved again, providing an inch-perfect cross for Gary Birch to volley just wide.

Lifeline

Forest survived the early onslaught and with 12 minutes gone they went close when Harewood fired a stinging 25-yard shot inches over the bar.

But it was the Saddlers who continued to force the pace and after 23 minutes they gained their reward when Sonner fired home the opener from the penalty spot.

Jon Olav Hjelde was ruled to have handled the ball on the line and to make matters worse for Forest he was sent off.

The Saddlers picked up where they had left off at the start of the second half and within two minutes they were back on the front foot as first Wrack and then Birch drilled efforts just wide.

But Forest's Johnson was unlucky not to equalise when his curling effort was tipped round the post by goalkeeper James Walker.

With seven minutes left Forest seemed to have bought a lifeline as Prutton blasted a scorching shot from 25-yards that deflected home off an onrushing defender.

But in the first minute of injury time justice was done for Walsall as Wrack latched on to Leitao's cross to slam home the winner.

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Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Hay, Roper, Aranalde, Wrack, Sonner, Corica, Leitao, Birch, Simpson. Subs: Zdrilic, Barras, Martinez, Herivelto, Ward.

Nottm Forest: Ward, Hjelde, Walker, Brennan, Scimeca, Jean, Prutton, Lester, Johnson, Harewood, Williams. Subs: Roche, Reid, Doig, Bopp, Jess.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire)