Walsall produced a determined, gutsy performance against Port Vale at Vale Park to knock the home side out of the Capital One Cup. It wasn't the type of opponent to beat by skill alone and the Saddlers grabbed a vital first half goal to give them a platform to work on. Port Vale had two early chances, both headers, to go ahead but dangerman Tom Pope's effort was cleared away by captain Andy Butler off the line and keeper Richard O'Donnell was alert to stop an effort from Doug Loft. Walsall took the lead when Milan Lalkovoc and James Chambers combined well and crossed for brother Adam to send a header onto the bar via the keeper and there was Ashley Hemmings to prod home.
With nearly an hour on the clock Vale got back into the game which was probably reward for all their hard work when a looping header from Chris Robertson fooled O'Donnell. Walsall came under the cosh a bit for the rest of the game but with six minutes remaining produced what was to be the winner when after some good work from Hemmings, James Baxendale beat a couple of men, cut inside and let rip with one which curled into the top corner of the net. Walsall return to The Potteries again for a second round clash with Stoke City.
