FULL-TIME: Walsall 1, Albion 2

4.06pm: No changes at the break as action resumes.

4.13pm: Elphick and Virgo stand strong as a flurry of high balls come into the box early on. I appreciate your comment about the service today, Sheil - and the weather. I can send you some icy snow over if you want.

4.17pm: A very latin expression of frustration from Poyet there as a free-kick is conceded - but no harm done, although Walsall are just shading this half.

4.19pm: It won't surprise you to learn Villa boss Martin O'Neill is here having a look at Albion. I suspect Poyet will return the compliment when Villa play West Ham tomorrow.

4.23pm: Albion settle again and go so close to scoring when Forster's volley from a corner is deflected just past the top corner.

4.29pm: Now Walsall enjoy a decent little spell, getting in several crosses which Elphick is almost invariably there to head away. The hosts make a double switch on 69 as seasoned striker Parkin and O'Keefe replace Till and Bradley.

4.34pm: Looking at the new full backs, they have both been six or seven out of ten, settling in steadily. Calderon has looked the better of the two apart from when Richards skipped by him for the home goal. Poyet will have to make at least two changes to his defence at Villa with Elphick banned and Painter cup-tied.

4.38pm: Fourteen minutes to go as the outstanding Forster trudges off to be replaced by Dickinson. The game has been going through a quiet spell in the last few minutes.

4.42pm: Still pretty quiet as the players get understandably tired. The gate is 3,450 of whom 497 are away fans.

4.46pm: Kuipers has to hold a Richards curler down by his ankles on 84 after Byfield had beaten Calderon and crossed. Byfield has come out to play on the greener pastures of this left wing and has just beaten the Spaniard again, who fouled him and was booked.

4.48pm: Dickinson cuts inside and shoots tamely at Ince from 18 yards.

4.49pm: The sponsors have just named richards as Walsall's MOTM. Meanwhile Kuipers is down injured after going down at the feet of Deeney in an untidy goalmouth flurry which ended with Calderon getting across sharply to whack the ball over the stand. Looks like we are going to have a fair amount of added time though I can report Kuipers is now sitting up. Brezovan has removed his tracksuit top and is warming up.

4.50pm: Kuipers is back in action and five minutes are being added. The added time starts with Virgo producing a brilliant block to thwart Deeney's shot when a goal looked certain.

4.53pm: FULL-TIME. It was tense, sulj and Danielle, but they held on in there and claimed the win.