Match Report: Walsall 0 Charlton Athletic 4

Both sides took time to settle into the game, each seeing plenty of the early ball but struggling to create much going forwards.

Things picked up after the slow start, and Walsall won the first corner of the game in the fourteenth minute, as Macaulay Gillesphey turned the ball out of play. The ball in from the flag-kick caused the Charlton defences some problems, and eventually fell to Charlie Lakin, outside the box, but the midfielders effort goal-wards sailed wide of the target.

With sixteen minutes on the clock, Charlton took the lead, with their first effort of the afternoon; Conor Coventry delivering a cross onto the head of Gassan Ahadme, who nodded home from the centre of the area.

Walsall were forced to make an early change to their line-up in just the nineteenth minute, as Jamie Jellis picked up a knock and was unable to continue, with Jack Earing taking his place.

Charlton almost added a second goal in the twenty-third minute, as Terry Taylor volleyed goal-wards, but Saddlers shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin was alert to the danger and made a great save to deny him.

The visiting side continued to enjoy a bright spell, and added a second goal to their tally for the afternoon in the twenty-eighth minute, as captain, Matty Godden intercepted a back pass from Brandon Comley, rounded the Walsall 'keeper and coolly rolled the ball into an empty net.

Walsall almost pulled a goal back in the thirty-first minute, as Taylor Allen crossed the ball into the box for Lowe, but Charlton goalkeeper, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, was alert to the danger and pulled off a fine save to deny the striker.

The resulting corner was delivered into the box by Allen, but Harry Williams was unable to find the target with his header goal-wards, sending the ball sailing narrowly over the crossbar.

Charlton were quick to work the ball up to the other end, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Taylor played onto the head of Alex Mitchell, but the defender missed the target, with the effort going wide.

Walsall continued to seek a route back into the game as play continued, with Connor Barrett forcing another save from the Charlton shot-stopper in the thirty-eighth minute, with a low effort from the edge of the area.

There was a brief halt to proceedings in the forty-third minute, allowing Brandon Comley to receive treatment from the medical staff. It was soon determined that he would also be unable to continue, and a second substitution was made, with Ryan Stirk taking his place.

Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Charlton leading by two-goals-to-nil.

Walsall opted to make their third change of the afternoon as the teams returned, with Albert Adomah sitting out the second-half, as Jamille Matt took his place.

The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just three minutes in, as Mitchell turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Ahadme was on hand for the visitors to head clear.

Matty Godden became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the fifty-first minute following a foul on Allen.

The home side continued to enjoy a good spell of possession, and went close again ten minutes into the half, as Barrett tried his luck from just outside the area, but his low effort was well saved by the Charlton 'keeper at the second time of asking.

Taylor Allen became the second player to receive a caution, as he was shown the yellow card in the fifty-seventh minute after venting his frustration.

Danny Hylton followed Allen into the referee's notebook as we reached the hour mark, as the Charlton substitute was shown the yellow card for preventing Walsall taking a throw in whilst warming up on the touchline.

Charlton opted to make their first substitutions of the afternoon, in the sixty-third minute, with Luke Berry and Matty Godden making way, as Tyreece Campbell and Thierry Small took their places.

Rarmani Edmonds-Green joined those playing on a caution, in the sixty-sixth minute, as he was shown the yellow card for time wasting.

Charlton looked to add to their tally moments after the booking, as Taylor fired goal-wards from just inside the area, but Simkin remained alert and got down well to pull off a fine save to deny him.

Walsall chose to make their final substitutions of the afternoon in the sixty-ninth minute, as Charlie Lakin and Nathan Lowe were replaced by George Hall and Danny Johnson for the run in.

The visiting side continued to seek to add to their tally, with Karoy Anderson seeing an effort on goal blocked, in the seventy-third minute.

Things settled a little as the game continued, although a nice ball into the box from Liam Gordon was turned over the crossbar by Johnson in the seventy-seventh minute.

Five minutes from time, Charlton put the game to bed, as Simkin failed to clear a free-kick, allowing Ahadme to get his head to the ball and nod home from close range.

The visiting team opted to make two further changes to their line-up, in the eighty-eighth minute, as Gassan Ahadme and Conor Coventry made way for the already cautioned, Danny Hylton and Allan Campbell.

Three additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Charlton chose to make a final change to their line-up, with Karoy Anderson departing, in favour of Josh Laqeretabua.

Mere seconds after the substitution was completed, Charlton added a fourth goal to their afternoons tally, as a cross in from Small was cleared to Campbell, who fired home from close range.

That would be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Charlton winning by four-goals-to-nil, seeing the Saddlers crash out of the FA Cup.