Sheff Utd 3-2 Walsall: Blades come from behind to beat Walsall

Sheffield United came from behind to beat Walsall 3-2 at Bramall Lane in their Carabao Cup first-round tie on Wednesday.

Walsall were ahead on 13 minutes through Amadou Bakayoko's shot from inside the box, and the hosts weren't level until the 73rd minute as Kory Roberts turned into his own net from Ched Evans' touch.

Evans then set up Nathan Thomas to put the Blades ahead with 11 minutes remaining, before Daniel Lafferty made it 3-1 two minutes later.

Walsall scored a late penalty through Erhun Oztumer to make it 3-2, but the Blades held on, and the second-round draw will take place on Thursday evening at around 10pm, live on Sky Sports News.

The visitors took an unexpected 13th-minute lead when Oztumer beat the offside trap and squared for Bakayoko to side-foot home from six yards out.

The Blades, with 11 changes from Saturday's 1-0 win over Brentford, struggled to create anything of note with the returning John Brayford having a shot blocked by Roberts.

United sub Evans was brought into the fray early in the second half and his effort brought the hosts level, with the unlucky Roberts chesting the Welshman's shot into his own net.

Evans then set up fellow debutant Thomas, crossing from the byline for the former Hartlepool ace to ram home from close range five minutes later and Lavery lobbed in a third minutes later.

Walsall pulled a goal back in injury-time, Oztumer scoring from the spot after sub Chris Basham was penalised for handball but it wasn't enough as United held on for victory.