Newport County 2-1 Walsall

League Two side Newport County took Walsall's scalp in a day of FA Cup first-round upsets.

The League One side fell behind thanks to a deflected effort from striker Frank Nouble, who had gone 12 games without scoring.

Shawn McCoulsky doubled the advantage just 25 seconds after the start of the second half.

Substitute Amadou Bakayoko's 78th-minute header proved to be a consolation for the visitors.

The Exiles advance to the second round for the fourth time in five seasons, but Walsall's poor recent FA Cup record in the competition as they were knocked out in the first round for the third time in the last four years.

The Saddlers controlled possession for large spells but looked every bit a side who have only won one of their last seven games, with confidence clearly the missing ingredient for Jon Whitney's men.

They should have levelled when on-loan West Bromwich Albion striker Tyler Roberts - who was watched by Wales manager Chris Coleman in the stand - fired just wide from a well-worked corner.

Shawn McCoulsky of Newport County and Jon Guthrie of Walsall compete for the ball

But it was the Exiles who created the clearer chances, although there was an element of fortune to their first goal.

Nouble showed pace and power to lose his marker, but his shot ballooned up off Jon Guthrie and dipped under the crossbar, leaving Mark Gillespie no chance.

However, the Walsall goalkeeper may well feel he could have done better for Newport's second, with the Saddlers caught cold immediately after the restart.

Ben White strolled through the Saddlers' rearguard to find McCoulsky, who was able to pick his spot from an acute angle as he fired across Gillespie and inside the far post.

It was the striker's eighth goal of the season in only his 13th appearance.

Kieron Morris thought he had reduced the arrears, only to be wrongly flagged for offside, but Walsall struggled to impose themselves against a Newport side that seemed to relish the task of protecting their advantage with a potential bumper pay-day to come.

They might even have had a third, but Nouble flashed a header just wide from Matty Dolan's corner.

Bakayoko beat Mickey Demetriou to the ball and headed home a goal to give the visitors hope, but the Exiles deservedly hung on.

Newport manager Mike Flynn told BBC Sport Wales:

"It was an outstanding, disciplined performance. But I am a little bit disappointed with the goal we conceded. If we cut out those little things, we will be a very good team.

"We knew they would have a lot of the ball. But it was almost a perfect defensive display."

Walsall manager Jon Whitney told BBC WM:

"We limited them to just one shot on target in the first half. We didn't look under threat. And we talked about how important it was to keep it tight at the start of the second half.

"But conceding a goal 25 seconds into the second half makes it so difficult for you. It's always an uphill task when you concede a poor team goal like that."