Walsall hero Lowe 'disappointed not to get hat-trick'

Nathan Lowe made his Walsall debut as a substitute in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Tranmere

Teenage Walsall striker Nathan Lowe went from missing a penalty to becoming a two-goal hero as he fired the Saddlers into the third round of the League Cup for the first time since 2015.

The 18-year-old, making his first start on loan from Championship club Stoke City, looked set for defeat when Walsall went 2-0 down to relegated League One side Huddersfield Town - just three minutes after he had missed a penalty.

But he told BBC Radio WM that the whole night had been "just a massive rollercoaster".

"That's the highs and lows of football," he said. "I'm gutted to miss a penalty. I've never missed one in my life before.

"I don't know what happened. It must be a curse or something. I'll definitely be practising them. But the lads were good to me after I missed, and I'm happy with the way I bounced back."

Lowe struck in the 63rd and 70th minutes before a Michal Helik own goal sent them into the third round.

"The game's all about making mistakes," said Saddlers boss Mat Sadler. "We wanted to create an environment where people can make mistakes and go again.

"It shows the spirit we have in the dressing room. It's turned into a really good night for the club. The players and the fans were fantastic."

The night also hinged on Huddersfield getting reduced to 10 men following Matty Pearson's red card just before half-time. But Sadler was already impressed with the way his Walsall side were playing.

"Obviously they had that extra bit of quality but, in the first half, up against 11 men, I actually felt very comfortable."

The night took a downturn when Huddersfield scored again so quickly after Lowe's spot-kick miss - what could have been a knockout blow for a Walsall side, who also missed a penalty by Jamille Matt against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday as their three-game winning start came to an end.

But England Under-19 international Lowe, whose first senior goal was a late winner at Bristol City for Stoke 11 months ago, then scored twice in seven minutes.

The winner - Helik's own goal - came seven minutes later before Lowe was denied a hat-trick by a brilliant save.

"Once you get one, you get a taste for it," he added. "The second chance fell and I was actually disappointed not to get a hat-trick.

"When you score two, you feel confident. It gives you the chance to try more. It was a finger-tip save and I didn't think he was going to get it. And yes, I might have got the match ball, but it doesn't change the fact I missed a pen."

The third-round draw will take place after Wednesday's seven ties - and also includes Lowe's parent club Stoke, shock 5-0 winners at Middlesbrough.

Nathan Lowe was talking to BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon