Walsall have opened up a 2-1 lead over Championship side Nottingham Forest at half time in their first-round League Cup tie at the City Ground.

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Both sides made a lively start to the match with Jamie Ward firing just high from close range before Dorus de Vries had to make a diving save in the Forest goal to keep out a deflected free kick.

Walsall's early pressure paid off though as Milan Lalkovic drilled the ball in low, setting up Tom Bradshaw for a tap-in at the near post to open the scoring.

The striker soon added his second in an almost identical move from the League One side, with Sam Mantom setting Bradshaw up again just two minutes later.

Ward had a chance to get a goal back for the Championship side as he tried his luck from 25 yards out, but his finish did not trouble Neil Etherington in the Walsall goal.

Walsall could have made it three with less than half an hour played as Kieron Morris drilled the ball towards the home side's net, but his finish swerved just wide, while Chris Burke hit the woodwork down the other end moments later after his shot deflected off James O'Connor before bouncing back off the crossbar.

The hosts were able to cut the deficit in half as Jamie Paterson set up Tyler Walker with a cross, leaving the 18-year-old with a simple tap-in for a goal in his full debut for the club.