Darren Wrack bagged a brace as rampant Walsall outclassed Nottingham Forest at Bescot tonight. Wrack and then Simon Osborn gave Walsall a 2-1 half time lead before Wrack again and Gary Birch capped a fine performance.
Walsall began brightly and Steve Corica had a shot tipped over before Wrack nodded a Birch knock-down past Darren Ward (30). Six minutes later it was 2-0; Birch chased down a back pass and tackled Ward leaving Osborn to roll the ball into an empty net. Andy Reid pulled a goal back for the visitors on 42, when he fired past Jimmy Walker from the edge of the area on a rare Forest attack.
Walsall at last turned their dominance into chances and Baird had a close range header brilliantly saved before Ritchie headed another Merson corner over. Birch at last looked to have the goal he deserved when he latched onto a short back pass and rounded Ward but could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle.
Birch - improving with every game - helped to create a third, winning a header on the left which allowed Wrack to advance, cut inside and fire past Ward (64). The young striker then netted his second in two games, converting a cross from Paul Merson after a fine ball from substitute Neil Emblen.