Two goals in the space of three first-half minutes saw Walsall reach the third round of the Worthington Cup with a deserved win.

Goals from Jorge Leitao and Brazilian striker Junior gave the Saddlers their second 2-1 victory over Forest this season, as the home side showed little of the form that has taken them to fourth place in the First Division.

Forest enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Eugen Bopp volleying over the crossbar inside the opening 10 minutes.

A breakthrough looked on the cards but few could have predicted that it would come from Walsall and be followed by a second within three minutes.

Leitao had a hand in both, showing great composure to drive right-footed past Ward in the 21st minute.

The Portuguese striker then turned provider, producing a slide-rule pass to release Junior who casually slipped the ball into the corner of the net.

Forest were shell-shocked by the double strike, and things could have been even worse on the half-hour mark.

Ward only half-cleared Steve Corica's free-kick but Danny Hay could only head the resultant Martin O'Connor cross wide when given space in the box.

The home side, who have been praised for their incisive attacking play this season, were being restricted to speculative long-range efforts as Walsall's defence harried and chased at every opportunity.

Johnson was the focus of most of their attacking moves and he was involved in releasing Marlon Harewood, only for Darren Bazeley to deflect the 23-year-old's goalbound effort wide of the target.

Ricardo Scimeca's delivery from the right-hand side was troubling the Walsall defence, and he gave Forest a route back into the game with 11 minutes left.

Johnson was the first to react to his whipped cross, and he produced an excellent flicked header to net his eighth goal in the last five games.

That strike gave Forest renewed hope in the closing stages, and Walker had to be at his most alert to tip John Thompson's mis-hit centre over the crossbar.

Nottingham Forest: Ward, Thompson, Dawson, Hjelde, Doig, Bopp, Scimeca, Williams, Reid, Johnson, Harewood. Subs: Westcarr, Roche, Cash, Antoine-Curier, Robertson.

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Hay, Roper, Aranalde, Wrack, O'Connor, Corica, Simpson, Leitao, Junior. Subs: Ward, Matias, Barras, Birch, Martinez.

Referee: G Cain (Merseyside)