In the end, Malawi offered little resistance to the Saddlers as they strolled to a 2-0 victory. After a 2-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic earlier this week, Friday's result should restore confidence to the camp.

After a sluggish start, it was the impressive Pedro Matias who kick-started the game, whipping in some dangerous balls into the box.

However, it was the vision of Danny Sonner that created our first real chance on goal. Jorge Leitao ran onto a through ball from the ex-Blues man but shot wide.

Sonner was involved in the opening goal too, as he threaded Steve Corica through on goal, and the little Aussie slotted home nicely.

The Saddlers had an interesting trailist in the starting eleven, called Juaio. The tricky Brazilian wasn't afraid to shoot, and curled a nice free-kick just wide of the post.

Shortly after half-time, which saw Birch replace Jorge and Hay replace Carbon, Juiao went close again, and Malawi had a decent effort which was saved by Walker.

On 50 minutes, a ball aimed for Juaio from the wing took a deflection of a Malawi defender and sailed into the net to double the Saddlers advantage.

There were not many chances after that, and a number of Walsall subsitutions broke up the pattern of the game. Herivelo, Andy Sinton, and an un-named trialist all saw a piece of the action, as did Tony Barras, Mark Wright and Matt Fryatt later in the game.

Malawi made a few chances too as they searched for a consolation goal, and they hit the bar towards the end of the match, after a header had beaten the competent Walker.

Malawi passed the ball around well throughout the game and considering they had won their previous 2 games over here, scoring 6 goals in the process, this result is promising.

The gaffer, Colin Lee, was pleased enough with the result. Speaking to the Official Walsall FC Site, he said: "They (Malawi) presented us with the test that I felt we needed. It was a useful exercise both tactically and physically."

The Walsall starting line up: Walker; Bazeley, Carbon, Roper, Aranalde; Wrack, Sonner, Matias; Juaio, Leitao, Corica.

Substitues for Walsall: Hay for Carbon (45), Birch for Leitao (45), Herivelto for Corica (70), Trialist for Sonner (70), Sinton for Matias (76), Barras for Roper (80), Wright for Wrack (88) and Fryatt for Juaio (88).

Subs not used: Harris, Rodrigues.