Walsall v Leicester City live match updates

"I don’t know, to be fair, it’s an interesting question. Maybe I need to understand a bit more because I’m committed to understanding the feeling. It’s probably not a question ofr me to answer. What I do know is that the hard work at the training ground is great. We believe in what we are doing and we have been so frustrated we haven’t taken more points than we have because we know there’s so many things that need to be better. In terms of becoming the PL team we want to be this year. There’s moments like this will show us the togetherness and there will be no hiding or backing away that’s for sure. I haven’t got that in me."

"It just makes me more determined. I see the guys working so hard. No one said it was going to be easy. We’re not the only ones in the situation we are in the Premier League. It’s nto that often you see a newly-promoted team come into this league and hit the ground running and sail away in the Premier League. IT’s normal, I came into the job knowing that. That there would be spells when you really need to roll your sleeves up and work so hard. That’s what we will be doing. It’s going to be a challenging season. It always is when you get promoted from the C’shp. No one is up for it more than me, I know that."

"I’ll never have a bad opinion on any view. I have a lot of respect for football supporters in general and for Leicester supporters. I know that myself and the coaching team have to build credit with the supporters but I also see that as what an opportunity to show…it’s maybe nights like this that you can look back on a form a strong relationship - that’s my objective. I really want to do well for this club. I’ve bought into what it stands for and the people who work here on the football and non-football side are so well-natured I really want to do well. I take that responsibility seriously. That extends to the supporters as well. I’m glad you’ve asked me about it, it’s an important thing to talk about, but I see it as a great opportunity."

“I didn’t really see it, but I heard the chanting in the crowd and I’ll own that. You’ll never hear me having any disrespect against fan opinions. That’s what a supporter is, they need to support their club in how they see fit. I will own that. I need to build some credit with supporters and earn the right to do the job. I knew that anyway. It’s things like that that will make me even more committed and determined to do well. I’m desperate to do that. I have no problem with it. It’s an experience for me that I will try to make the best of. What an opportunity to show how good I am and how good we are. That will be my approach to it.”

“The shoot-out was well executed in terms of the lads who scored the penalties, but credit needs to go to Wardy and the goalkeeping department for the plan they put together. They did their due diligence. Wardy committed to it and make the saves. The first two were fine saves. It was an average performance at best in terms of trying to get the game done in normal time. We gave too much hope to Walsall and the crowd with some loose passes and easy giveaways allowing them to get up the pitch and put a dangerous cross in.

“For all of the ball we had there’s no doubt we were not enough of an attacking threat, and we didn’t create enough dangerous moments in the game. You run the risk with changes but it was an experienced team out there, with high-level players, and we had more than enough to make it more comfortable.

“It isn’t always easy. Lots of games can end up worse than ours. I have no problems with the application and commitment of the boys. They stuck to the application of not losing, but there’s no doubt we need to be more of an attacking threat.”

Leicester City reversed into the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup with a prosaic performance and penalty shoot-out victory over League Two Walsall.

The Foxes, who are yet to win in the Premier League this season, failed to put Mat Sadler’s Saddlers away in normal time, instead they needed three saves from Danny Ward to win a spot-kick that keeps them on track for what would be a fourth League Cup title.

That seems a long way away after tonight’s display through, with City fans aiming their criticism at manager Steve Cooper, both at the Poundland Bescot Stadium and online, in the comments section on LeicestershireLive’s City coverage.

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He's saved all three! Gordon's weak penalty is kept out and City are through.

Ward's name is chanted from the away end. He's the hero!

Simkin goes the right way but Skipp's effort is far enough into the corner to give City a three-goal advantage.

He's saved again! Okagbue goes hard to Ward's right but he dives to keep it out.

A centre-back taking second, but it's cool from Coady, who sends Simkin the wrong way.

Allen goes low and to Ward's right, but it's a strong hand from the keeper and it's advantage City.

Ricardo finds the bottom corner! City lead in the shoot-out.

Penalties it is.

Will either side get a winner, or are we getting penalties?

If any side is going to get a winner, it looks like being Walsall.

They're the ones pushing and the Bescot is very loud. A couple of shots come in, but City get bodies in the way.

Skipp, El Khannouss, and McAteer have replaced Choudhury, Buonanotte, and De Cordova-Reid.

Just beforehand, Fatawu crossed and Buonanotte stooped for a diving header, forcing Simkin into a low save. That was City's first shot on target.

Thomas, for the first time this evening, shows some attacking intent and bundles his way into the box. He stretches to poke the ball into the middle, but Simkin dives at his feet and Walsall clear.

A supporter runs onto the pitch, it looks like from the Leicester end, and he heads towards the dugouts, pointing and shouting.

He eventually turns back and after dodging one steward, Walsall defender Okagbue helps stop him.

Fatawu nutmegs Gordon and is into the box, but while City players are queueing up in the box, Fatawu goes alone, shooting into the side-netting from a tight angle. He showed have looked for the pass.

Edouard's full debut ends there. It's not been his night.

Fatawu finally escapes his man and slips the ball in for Buonanotte, who just keeps himself onside. The ball is crossed and Edouard is running in, but the defender gets a toe on it and the ball loops into Simkin's grateful hands.

All four corners of the ground join in an applause for the late Craig Shakespeare. Will it inspire City?

Okoli blocks a free-kick with his face and goes down, but Edouard brings it away and Buonanotte chips a ball over the top for De Cordova-Reid, who has a clear run at goal.

Only then, the referee brings it back for Okoli to receive treatment.

Walsall are penning City in and there are jeers from the 2,000 away fans here.

"Cooper, sort it out!" they sing.

Fatawu pokes the ball back into his own box but Coady isn't there, and Lowe picks it up. He lays it off to Adomah, but there's enough pressure on him from Soumare to make him put his shot wide.

Still, he probably should have scored.

Can City find the goal they need this half?

That's not what City would have wanted. They're yet to have a shot on target, and the ones they've had off target haven't really been decent chances.

The best opportunity fell to Lakin, whose first-time shot was parried away by Ward.

The hope for City is that their 75% share of possession with see Walsall tire in the second half.

Soumare whips in a first-time cross, Buonanotte flicks it on and it bounces off Edouard and into goalkeeper Simkin's hands. Is that a shot on target? If it is, it's their first of the night.

The Argentinian hasn't done well so far tonight. He's trying a first-time pass nearly every time he receives the ball, and a lot of them aren't coming off.

But then there's just been two attacking situations where he's taken a shot, one blocked, one well wide, where he would have been better off looking for another option.

City don't deal with a long throw, which is flicked on and reaches Lakin at the back post. Ward closes him down and the ball goes out for a goal kick without Walsall getting a shot away.

But it was certainly dangerous.