Brentford’s 2012-13 campaign kicked off three days early as this first round league cup clash was brought forward to the Saturday.

Brentford started slowly and face an uphill struggle when Reeves was sent off for a lunge with just twenty minutes on the clock.

After a slow start the second half gave a lot of positives with the ten men of Brentford out playing the hosts Dave, Forshaw, Donaldson and O’Connor all impressed.

Playing three at the back we gave Walsall more room and chances but we responded well, forcing their young keeper to keep them in it on more than one occasion.

It was not the start that we wanted or anticipated after beating Wycombe in midweek but we return next month in the league, now with something to prove and with three points at stake.