Jordy Hiwula the hero as Walsall win it late on against Southend
On-loan striker Jordy Hiwula grabbed an 88th-minute goal that gave Walsall a deserved 1-0 win over battling Southend and kept their automatic promotion dream alive at the Banks's Stadium.
The Huddersfield player, in his second spell with the Saddlers, planted a header against the crossbar from a Kieron Morris corner and the assistant referee indicated it had crossed the line before a defender hacked it clear.
It was no more than Walsall deserved after totally dominating the game, but it needed a fine save from home goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to deny Southend skipper Adam Barrett an equaliser with a volley well into the five minutes of added time.
Walsall put Southend under terrific pressure in the first half but somehow the visitors held out, with keeper Dan Bentley pulling off several fine saves.
In the first minute, Romaine Sawyers broke through on the right and chipped the keeper but the ball sailed just wide, then Sam Mantom had a shot saved, Rico Henry fired just over and on the half-hour Bentley made three fines saves to deny Milan Lalkovic, Sawyers and Hiwula.
Southend were restricted to occasional breakaways, Jack Payne hitting one shot well off target, and as Walsall maintained the pressure after half-time, Anthony Forde hit a post.
Source: PA
