Walsall stun Cumbrians

Struggling Walsall completed their first double of the season in fine style with a 3-1 win over Carlisle at Brunton Park.

The Saddlers made it four games without defeat thanks to a first-half strike from Matt Gill and a second-half double from the lively Julian Gray. Carlisle pulled one back in stoppage time through a thumping Peter Murphy header from James Berrett's corner but it was far too late to save the Cumbrians from a shock defeat. Carlisle came close to scoring in the first half when a Murphy header was deflected before striking the top of the crossbar but Carlisle generally failed to trouble a solid looking Walsall defence. A mistake by winger Matty Robson, who lost possession inside his own half, indirectly led to Walsall's 37th-minute opener. Jon Macken and Alex Nicholls combined to set up on-loan Norwich midfielder Gill 10 yards out and he turned to drive a right-foot shot firmly into the back of the net. And things got worse for Carlisle in the 59th minute when a long ball from Macken found Gray alone in acres of space and the Walsall forward kept his cool to slip the ball past keeper Alan Collin from well inside the area. The Saddlers extended their lead in the 73rd minute with a close-range header by Gray after Collin failed to clear Macken's initial shot from Gill's cross before Murphy headed home a consolation for the home side.