Walsall suffered a heavy defeat on a disappointing night against Harrogate Town.
Goals from Sam Folarin, Kazeem Olaigbe and Alex Pattison saw the Sulphurites cruise to a comfortable victory.
Michael Flynn made two changes to the team that started against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
Matty Stevens and Joe Riley came into the team while Conor Wilkinson and Joe Low dropped to the bench.
The Saddlers enjoyed a good spell of possession in the opening exchanges but had a warning sign when a ball was played over the top to Luke Armstrong who tried to lob Owen Evans but he scuffed his lines and missed the target.
Harrogate were more clinical with their next opportunity as they opened the scoring when Armstrong’s cross was met by Pattison who miss-hit his shot but it found its way to Folarin who was free and he applied the finish at the back post.
The hosts were good value for their lead and thought they doubled their advantage when Armstrong smartly finished past Evans but it was ruled out for offside.
Walsall’s first bright moment came on 37 minutes when Oisin McEntee lofted the ball to Jamille Matt who nodded it into the path of Stevens and the striker looped the ball goalwards but his effort just dropped wide.
The Saddlers ended the first half in the ascendancy and had a glorious chance to level on the stroke of half time when a corner was floated in and flicked into the path of Brandon Comley who directed a header goalwards but Mark Oxley made a good save to deny him. It proved to be the last action of the first half and the Saddlers went in behind.
Walsall enjoyed a lot of possession in the early exchanges of the second half but couldn’t break down a stubborn Harrogate defence.
It was the Sulphurites who grabbed the second goal of the evening on 66 minutes when the ball fell to Olaigbe just outside the box and he curled the ball into the far corner as hesitant defending proved costly for the Saddlers.
Flynn made his first change in the 70th minute as he introduced Jacob Maddox in place of Stevens.
Harrogate made matters worse for Walsall when Pattison was slipped through and arrowed the ball past Evans to add a third.
Andy Williams, Ronan Maher and Wilkinson all came on in in the latter stages as Flynn made further alterations.
Evans; Riley, McEntee, Monthe, Gordon; Kinsella, Comley (Williams 78’), Hutchinson, (Maher 82’) Knowles; Matt (Wilkinson 82’), Stevens (Maddox 70’)
Subs: Smith (GK), Low, Songo’o
Attendance: 1867 (195 away)