Notts County vs Walsall. Sky Bet League One.
Meadow LaneAttendance5,701.
Saturday 25 January 2014 19:01, UK
Febian Brandy's first-half hat-trick helped Walsall climb into the play-off places with 5-1 win at Notts County.
Andy Butler and Craig Westcarr scored soon after the interval to continue the rout before Callum McGregor pulled back a consolation for the hosts. Now unbeaten in six games, the Saddlers boast the best defensive away record in the league but it was their counter-attacking prowess that caught the eye at Meadow Lane. Brandy, on loan from Sheffield United, fired his first goal in the 24th minute, rounding Notts keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and guiding the ball into an empty net. Brandy made it 2-0 in the nine minutes later, this time crashing a super finish into the top corner and he then clinched the matchball just before half-time with a simple header. Butler then got in on the act just after the break when he headed in Sam Mantom's cross before Westcarr grabbed a deserved goal in 54th minute following another rapid counter-attack. McGregor did pull a goal back for Notts with a fine free-kick, but that was as good as it got for Shaun Derry's side.
