Late goals from Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw have earned Walsall a 2-0 advantage over Preston North End in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area final.
Walsall were indebted to the display of goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell during the first half after he twice made remarkable saves to deny Jermaine Beckford, and after keeping the score goalless until the final 10 minutes, the Saddlers nicked a first-leg lead.
After Forde had curled home a delightful free kick from 25 yards, Bradshaw capitalised on a poor back-pass from Scott Wiseman to slot the ball past Thorsten Stuckmann to put the West Midlands outfit in the driving seat ahead of the second leg.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at Deepdale.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area final between Preston North End and Walsall.
When 48 teams start out at the beginning of the season, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy is initially seen as an unwanted distraction from league action but the further a club progresses in the competition, reaching Wembley starts to become a realistic possibility and more clubs start to take the competition seriously. That's what we will get this evening as Preston and Walsall go head-to-head to try to move a step closer to a memorable day out at England's national stadium.
Preston have made it to Wembley for FA Cup finals and playoff finals, but for Walsall, they are yet to make it to the the new or old Wembley Stadium in their 127-year history. The Saddlers' supporters will be crying out for a positive result at Deepdale tonight!
Without further ado, both sets of team news is coming right up.
PRESTON NORTH END XI: Stuckmann, Wiseman, Clarke, Huntington, Laird, Humphrey, Browne, Kilkenny, Gallagher, Beckford, Davies
PRESTON NORTH END SUBSTITUTES: Jones, Wright, Reid, King, Ebanks-Blake
WALSALL XI: O'Donnell, Taylor, O'Connor, J. Chambers, Downing, Cook, Cain, A. Chambers, Forde, Sawyers, Bradshaw
WALSALL SUBSTITUTES: Purkiss, Baxendale, Grimes,Flanagan, MacGillivray
Preston boss has made a number of alterations to the team that overcome Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday. Tom Clarke, Neil Kilkenny and Kevin Davies have all been included in the starting lineup, as has Jermaine Beckford. Recent addition Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could feature from the bench later in the evening.
As for Walsall, they are able to welcome back Jordan Cook after his recovery from a sickness bug. James Baxendale is the man to miss out, but he takes his place among Dean Smith's five substitutes.
The two teams have already met this season with Walsall securing a 3-1 victory over their opponents at the Banks's Stadium. Romaine Sawyers, Paul Downing and Tom Bradshaw - the three goalscorers back in September - all start this evening so I'm sure they will be out to make an impact against the Lilywhites for a second time.
PREDICTION! While Walsall have recorded some impressive results during a five-game unbeaten streak on the road, it's hard to look past Preston for the win this evening. They haven't lost in any competition since November 15 and with a strike-force that once upon a time could have graced the Premier League, they ought to establish a lead before the second leg in the West Midlands. Preston to win 3-1 or 4-1.
Right on schedule, the two teams are making their way out to a warm welcome from the supporters. It far from a full house at Deepdale but you get the feeling that there's going to be decent atmosphere this evening.
It's Preston who get us underway.
Both teams have spent the opening couple of minutes with a decent amount of possession but all of the play has come in the middle of the pitch with no opportunities being threatened.
Walsall have the first corner of the match after Thorsten Stuckmann's momentum sees him take the ball over the line, but despite a good ball into the box, Preston survive when the ball goes straight out for a throw in.
Walsall are playing some good stuff now. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Anthony Forde twists and turns on the right flank before crossing into the middle but a defender just does enough to prevent Romaine Sawyers from heading the Saddlers into the lead.
Anthony Forde looks a threat every time he gets the ball and a minute after his first contribution, he drives at the Preston defence before drilling the ball towards Tom Bradshaw in the middle, but again, Preston just about clear their lines, albeit unconvincingly.
SAVE! Oh my word. Richard O'Donnell has just pulled off one of the saves of the season from Jermaine Beckford. The ball was swung into the middle by Paul Gallagher for Beckford, who was no more than six yards out, but his powerful header was somehow kept out by O'Donnell. It's an unbelievable stop.
After that initial pressure from Walsall, it's all Preston now. They should be ahead but the crowd are fully behind them as they continue to probe for another opening.
SHOT! Chris Humphrey has looked lively on the right-hand side but he switches the ball onto his left before driving over from 20 overs. It's a solid attempt but it was always rising over O'Donnell's crossbar.
Moments later, Jermaine Beckford turned on the edge of the area before shooting over, much like Humphrey's effort. Walsall need to find a way to combat the pressure because the home side are beginning to build a head of steam.
James Chambers is a very lucky boy. He is beaten far too easily by Chris Humphrey when trying to ease the ball out of play, but the winger's cross into the middle is cleared by James O'Connor when it appeared as though Kevin Davies was perfectly placed to tap home.
Walsall have started to resort to long balls to try to get in behind the Preston defence but so far, the home side are equal to it. Their best chance is getting the ball to the likes of Forde and Sawyers on the flanks but Preston are doing a fine job in nullifying their effect.
How many last-ditch clearances are Walsall going to have to make tonight? It could be quite a few. Preston work a short corner to give Paul Gallagher the chance to cross but Andy Taylor manages to get his head in the way to divert the ball over for another corner.
For the first time in about 15 minutes, Walsall have a couple of cracks of getting the ball into the Preston box but neither delivery comes close to finding its intended target.
SAVE! Richard O'Donnell is at it again! It's not as good as his first save but it's not far off. Again, a Gallagher cross found Beckford free inside the box but his header is wonderfully tipped over by the goalkeeper. Beckford can't believe it.
CHANCE! That's better from Walsall, who work the ball across the edge of the penalty area before Michael Cain takes control of the move. However, after the Leicester City loanee bustled his way through, he dragged his low shot a yard wide of the post.
Walsall earn a free kick after Tom Clarke needlessly barges into the back of Tom Bradshaw around 40 yards from goal. However, the visitors decide to try to work the ball into the box rather than lump it forward and Preston reclaim possession.
WOODWORK! The Saddlers win another set piece, but this time, it's in a more central position and only 25 yards from goal. Andy Taylor takes over responsibility before whipping the ball towards the bottom corner, only to see his attempt bounce off the post and go clear.
The action inside either final third has dried up over the past few minutes but there is still plenty of action in the middle of the pitch. We are still goalless but this has been an entertaining contest.
If the score remains the same going into half time, I imagine that Simon Grayson and Dean Smith will be content that their side is still level. Richard O'Donnell has been Walsall's saviour on more than one occasion but the visitors could have easily gone ahead through Andy Taylor's free kick.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Preston North End 0-0 Walsall
Michael Cain tested Thorsten Stuckmann with a stinging 25-yard drive with the last kick of the first half, but the German stopper dealt with the strike to see the two teams head into half time with the score remaining 0-0.
The statistics show that Walsall have had 58% of possession during the opening 45 minutes, but it's Preston who are threatening their opponents' goal on a more regular basis. North End have had seven shots on goal compared to Walsall's two while the home team have also won eight corners - six more than the Saddlers.
Strangely, the second leg of this tie won't take place until Tuesday, February 3 - almost four weeks after tonight's match. Neither team are going to want to spend a month dwelling over a defeat this evening.
Before the restart, I shall remind you that away goals don't count double in this competition. Is that a good thing or bad? I guess it all depends if it benefits your team or not! The two teams have made their way back out for the second half.
Walsall get us back underway.
Walsall put together a neat move to threaten an early chance but a floated pass towards Romaine Sawyers has too much on it and the ball runs through to Thorsten Stuckmann.
Preston haven't got going at the start of this second half and that's given plenty of encouragement to Walsall. They spray the ball about nicely before earning a corner, and from the resulting set piece, the ball is drilled into the area with Sawyers just failing to divert it home.
SHOT! A minute later, another spell of possession for Walsall ends with Michael Cain sending a rasping drive marginally over the crossbar. Thorsten Stuckmann looked to be beaten.
CHANCE! Back up the other end, Paul Gallagher and Jermaine Beckford link up for a third time this evening, but again, Richard O'Donnell saves Walsall. An inswinging cross from the striker who managed to direct the ball towards goal without any power and the goalkeeper was able to claim comfortably.
This match is developing into an end-to-end affair but unlike the start of the half, it's Preston who are looking more likely to break the deadlock. The game-plan appears to be to get the ball to Chris Humphrey or Gallagher on the flank because Walsall are having to defend for their lives each time a cross is whipped into the middle.
BOOKING! Tom Bradshaw has been relatively quiet in this match but he comes to life to sharply turn from Paul Huntington on the edge of the area before being hauled down by the defender. Jordan Cook opts to shoot from 25 yards from the resulting set piece but Thorsten Stuckmann is able to punch clear.
We are an hour through this contest and we still await the first goal. It's been a cracking cup tie, though, and I can't see this ending goalless. Preston are about to make their first substitution.
SUBSTITUTION! Kevin Davies is the man to be withdrawn by Simon Grayson, with winger Kyel Reid coming on in the veteran striker's place.
BOOKING! James O'Connor follows Paul Huntington into the referee's notebook after tugging back Scott Laird who seemed ready to burst into the penalty area.
SHOT! From the resulting free kick, Paul Gallagher whips a vicious effort towards Richard O'Donnell's top corner but the ball just evades its intended target. It's a terrific attempt which had O'Donnell beaten.
Moments after Gallagher's shot, Tom Bradshaw went down in the Preston penalty area but the striker was fortunate to avoid a booking for simulation.
It can't be too long before Simon Grayson or Dean Smith make another alteration. We've had just the one so far, and with the conditions being slightly demanding tonight, there will be some tired legs out there.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Simon Grayson must have heard me. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Jack King are being introduced into the action in place of Chris Humphrey and Jermaine Beckford.
SHOT! Walsall have been on the periphery of this match over the past 10 minutes but Romaine Sawyers goes close when firing a long-range effort just over the crossbar. Before play gets back underway, Dean Smith throws on James Baxendale in place of Jordan Cook.
We are through the 80-minute mark at Deepdale and we still await a goal. Maybe we won't get one after all? I'm sure that Simon Grayson will be throwing men forward to try to force the issue during the closing stages.
The rain is battering down in Lancashire now. It's going to be an extremely wet end to the match!
BOOKING! A shocking clearance from Thorsten Stuckmann puts Preston in all kinds of trouble and Neil Kilkenny takes one for the team in bringing Romaine Sawyers down went the attacker was about to set up a clear shooting chance for a teammate.
GOAL! Preston North End 0-1 Walsall (Forde)
Walsall take the lead at Deepdale and it's a stunning strike from Anthony Forde. Stuckmann and the Preston wall were expecting another shot from Andy Taylor but Forde stepped up to curled the ball into the far corner from 25 yards. It's a special effort from the former Wolves midfielder.
What have Preston got in response? They are trying to get the ball forward but as of yet, a number of poor balls and unfair challenges are letting Walsall off the hook.
GOAL! Preston North End 0-2 Walsall (Bradshaw)
What are Preston doing?! Out of nowhere, Walsall have taken a two-goal lead but it's Preston who have shot themselves in the foot. Scott Wiseman's attempted back-pass had nowhere near enough pace on it to reach Thorsten Stuckmann and Tom Bradshaw stole in before slotting the ball past the German stopper from the side of the penalty area to send the Walsall supporters delirious!
There will be four minutes of added-on time. Preston need to find a goal and fast.
Another shocking clearance from Thorsten Stuckmann almost find its way through to a Preston striker but Richard O'Donnell is quick off his line to deal with any danger.
A cross from Kyel Reid is floated into the Walsall penalty area but it has too much power on it and the ball zips away for a goal kick. That could be that.
FULL TIME: Preston North End 0-2 Walsall
The final whistle goes at Deepdale and Walsall has held on to record a priceless victory over Preston North End. The home side had their chances to take the lead against the Saddlers but Dean Smith's team, who were resolute throughout, held firm before nicking two goals in the final six minutes.
Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw will take the plaudits for the goals but Richard O'Donnell is Walsall's hero tonight. He pulled off one of the saves of the season during the opening exchanges to deny Jermaine Beckford and that intervention proved to be the catalyst for a excellent display from his team.
As I mentioned earlier, the second leg of this tie won't take place until Tuesday, February 3. It's going to be a long wait for both sets of supporters! On that note, we are going to wrap up coverage of this game. It hasn't been a bad alternative to Premier League and FA Cup football! Goodbye for now.
