Sierra Leone-born striker Amadou Bakayoko’s 78th-minute header was not enough as the Saddlers were dumped out of the FA Cup by League Two Newport on Saturday at the Rodney Parade venue.
The 21-year-old came off the bench to score for Walsall in their English FA Cup first round 2-1 defeat.
Newport ‘s striker Frank Nouble’s deflected 18th-minute strike put the Exiles ahead and Shawn McCoulsky made it 2-0 straight after the restart.
Substitute Bakayoko pulled one back but it wasn’t enough and proved to be a consolation for the visitors.
Second-half substitutes Maz Kouhyar and Amadou Bakayoko combined to devastating effect, the former crossing for the latter to glance a fine header just inside the far post.
Kouhyar then fired over from 25 yards as the visitors threw the kitchen sink in search of an equaliser, but County held on to reach round two.
“It was an outstanding, disciplined performance.”I am a little bit disappointed with the goal we conceded, Newport manager Mike Flynn told BBC Sports Wales:
“If we cut out those little things, we will be a very good team.
“It was almost a perfect defensive display, we knew they would have a lot of the ball.”
Walsall Team: Gillespie, Kinsella, Guthrie, Donnellan, Leahy, Ismail, Chambers, Edwards, Morris (Bakayoko 62’), Oztumer (Kouhyar 74’), T Roberts.
Subs not used: L Roberts, K Roberts, Devlin, Flanagan, Jackson.
Attendance: 2,701 (399 Walsall supporters).
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