Shrewsbury fell to defeat at home to Walsall in the EFL Trophy.

On what was a strange night at the Croud Meadow, Salop played some brilliant stuff in the first-half, particularly after striker Brad Ihionvien had cancelled out an early opener from Ryan Finnigan.

Will Boyle and Tommy McDermott both hit the crossbar. McDermott also had an effort cleared off the line by a defender.

And Saddlers keeper Sam Hornby made a string of good saves in the Southern Group C clash.

But after the interval, some costly errors led to two Walsall goals. And that was enough to earn all three points for Mat Sadler's side.

Team news: 

Michael Appleton gave a debut to deadline day arrival Bradley Ihionvien when naming his starting line-up, with the boss opting for a 3-5-2 formation.

Will Brook also made his Salop debut in goal with Toto Nsiala, Tom Anderson and Boyle making up the back three.

Luca Hoole and Mal Benning operated at wing-back with Isaac England, Harrison Biggins and McDermott in the middle of the park.

Up front, Ihionvien was partnered with Ismeal Kabia.

Report:

Walsall opened the scoring at the Croud Meadow after just five minutes with former Salop loanee Finnigan doing the damage.

The midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the box before dancing into the area and calmly finding the bottom corner.

Town almost pulled level two minutes later with Boyle flicking a free-kick against the bar.

But that was just a warning of what was to come with Appleton's men drawing level with a goal of real quality.

First, Nsiala did well to stop a Walsall counter-attack with England finding McDermott.

He did well to carry the ball forward before finding Benning, who whipped in a wonderful cross.

And hanging in the air for what felt like eternity was Ihionive,n who then bulleted a header past goalkeeper Sam Hornby and in.

Buoyed by the goal, Town started playing some really good stuff with Kabia and McDermott both testing Hornby from distance.

Then, on the half-hour mark, only a goal-line clearance from Ronan Maher prevented Salop from going ahead.

Once again, the move was eye-catching with England playing a clever ball to get Kabia to the byline.

He then picked out McDermott with a cross. But his strike was first blocked by Rico Browne before Maher hacked it off the line.

Appleton's men were purring and they - and McDermott - went close again after the Burnley midfielder won a free-kick on the edge of the box.

The 20-year-old then produced a brilliant strike that Hornby had to be at full-stretch to parry away.

If that strike was quality, McDermott produced an even better one just before the break.

The midfielder let fly with a thunderous effort from 25 yards that has Hornby beaten all day long.

But the ball crashed against the underside of the bar and bounced to safety - with the Burnley loanee millimetres away from a goal of the season contender.

After a thrilling first half, the second proved to be a lot more cagey.

But Shrewsbury went on to gift their rivals the lead in the 68th minute following a mistake from Hoole.

The defender played a pass that was cut out by Adomah and he then raced through before firing in.

Salop then shot themselves in the foot once again by giving the ball away and allowing Adomah to slip Okeke, who fired in.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Nsiala (Sang 83), Anderson, Boyle, Hoole, England (Perry 72), Biggins (Gray 83), McDermott, Benning, Ihionvien (Marquis 72), Kabia (Stewart 72).

Subs not used: Clucas, Stubbs.

Walsall: Hornby, Farquharson (Straw 45), Matt, Comley (Oben 63), Maher, Clarke, Cox, Finnigan (Okeke 63), Holman, Browne, Adomah (Wragg 87).

Subs not used: Roberts, Burke, Makavore.

Attendance: 2,004 (551)