Nottingham Forest 3-4 Walsall
- Published
Tom Bradshaw scored twice in a frantic three-minute spell in the first half
Tom Bradshaw's hat-trick earned League One side Walsall a shock win over Nottingham Forest in an incredible Capital One Cup first-round tie.
Bradshaw scored two quick first-half goals but Tyler Walker - son of former Forest defender Des - made it 2-1 with a tap-in before half-time.
Romaine Sawyers fired home Walsall's third with 11 minutes remaining.
Forest substitute Michail Antonio's double seemed to have forced extra-time but a Bradshaw penalty secured victory.
Antonio smashed home his first from 25 yards with nine minutes to go after a fine run and then backheeled the equaliser in the 90th minute.
Forest's Walsall woes |
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Nottingham Forest have now not beaten Walsall in their last 12 matches |
But Bradshaw was felled by Kelvin Wilson in the fifth minute of injury-time and then netted from the spot to dump the Championship side out of the competition.
Bradshaw's close-range early double had put Walsall in control against a lacklustre home side, both goals coming from breaks down Forest's left-hand side.
A change of formation saw the hosts drop their diamond formation for a more regular 4-4-2 and the improvement saw Walker mark his full debut with a goal when he slid the ball home from a yard.
Walsall regained their composure after the break and, when Sawyers smashed in a third away goal, the win looked a formality.
Antonio then struck back but Bradshaw's calm spot-kick ensured an upset.
Tyler Walker's first-half goal was his first at home for Forest and came in his full debut
Romaine Sawyers scored his second goal in two games to put Walsall 3-1 ahead
Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman: "I've finally reached the end of my tether [with some of the players]. I am bitterly disappointed.
"There is a lack of individual desire at the moment to keep the ball out of the back of the net and it has cost us once again. It is very difficult to concede four goals and win a match.
"There has got to be changes in personnel, simple as that."
Walsall hat-trick hero Tom Bradshaw: "I knew it was going in. The last penalty I took, in pre-season, hit a post - I thought to myself 'you can't miss two in a row' and luckily it went in.
"For Forest to score those late goals, it was hard to take, but I think it showed the character of the lads to come back and score the winner.
"You saw the passion from the players and it was a great team performance."
- Published8 August 2015
- Published11 August 2015
- Published11 August 2015
