Walsall recorded their first win in this season’s Leasing.com Trophy as they edged past Southampton Under 21s.

Dan Scarr scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time to move Walsall onto four points from their first two group games.

Darrell Clarke made six changes to the team that won 3-2 at Crawley Town. 

Cameron Norman, Liam Kinsella, Josh Gordon, Alfie Bates, Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Gary Liddle came in for James Clarke, Elijah Adebayo, Stuart Sinclair, Danny Guthrie, Wes McDonald and Rory Holden. 

Kory Roberts was also named on the bench after over a year on the sidelines. 

The visitors made a good start and had a couple of decent early opportunities through Callum Slattery and Jake Vokins but they failed to test Liam Roberts.

Walsall improved as the first half went on and had their best chance of the half fell to Gordon who headed Norman’s free-kick just wide.

The  Saddlers took the lead on the stroke of half time when defender Dan Scarr tapped in Zak Jules’ cutback. 

Clarke introduced McDonald at half-time and he caused Southampton a few problems down the left hand side. 

He tried to replicate his goal at Crawley with another curling effort but he could only find the keeper’s gloves.

Walsall’s best chance of the second half fell to Gordon who stole the ball from Christoph Klarer and found himself one-on-one with the keeper but Gordon’s effort was saved by Lewis’ legs. 

Southampton came close to an equaliser in the 77th minute when substitute Christian Norton’s snap shot was pushed away by Roberts.

An extra positive for the Saddlers was Kory Roberts’ long awaited return from injury as he came on deep into stoppage time and helped the Saddlers see out the game.