On Line: 23:30pm

Walsall snook through to the second round of the Carling Cup with a 2-1 victory over Carlisle at Bescot this evening. Paul Merson cancelled out a Craig Russell lob before Jorge Leitao chipped in with the winner.

Fielding a full strength side, Walsall began brightly against the Third Division side who had made nine changes since Saturday. Steve Corica had Walsall’s best chance with a powerful effort straight at keeper Matty Glennon. The Cumbrians then stunned the four and a half thousand Bescot crowd by taking the lead; Darren Bazeley was at fault as he failed to clear a long ball, allowing Craig Russell in behind the defence to lift the ball over a stranded Jimmy Walker.

The lead lasted only three minutes however, before another bit of Merson Magic restored parity. The skipper picked up a pass from full back Zigor Aranalde wide on the left before cutting inside, accelerating into the area and calmly slotting past Glennon. Corica nearly put us ahead on the stroke of half time, but his effort from the left flashed inches past the post.

Carlisle almost regained their lead at the start of the second half, but Brian Wake’s long range effort bounced down off the cross bar without crossing the line and Ian Roper cleared. After almost going behind, the Saddlers suddenly found themselves ahead. Jorge Leitao played a one-two with Paul Merson and found himself clean through on goal; it looked as though the ball was running away from the Portuguese striker and into the greatful arms of the United keeper but Jorge managed to get there first and lift the ball over Glennon and into the net.

That turned out to be the winner but there should have been far more goals than the three that were scored. Leitao headed a cross from Osborn over the bar before wildly firing over with just the keeper to beat. Merson was also foiled by the former Bolton trainee.