Walsall boss Mat Sadler felt his side were denied a “stonewall penalty” during their 4-3 defeat against Rovers in the Carabao Cup opening round.

The Saddlers twice led though Oisin McEntee and Ross Tierney, but Rovers hit back through Zak Gilsenan and Niall Ennis.

Jake Garrett and John Buckley were also on target after the break, while substitute Ronan Maher pulled one back with a stunning strike during the final stages.

Tierney went down in the box under Joe Hilton’s challenge prior to the opening goal, and Sadler couldn’t understand why his side weren’t awarded a spot kick.

"It was there for us all to see, when you go in front, you've got to stay in front longer than we did,” he told Express & Star.

"But it's difficult to be critical of the lads tonight in the first half especially, and then we had to show a different side to us when we went behind in the second half.

"In the first half, I thought we could've scored at least another couple. There was without question a stonewall penalty that was turned down, I don't know how.

“I thought the way that we countered on them, the way that we broke, the football that we played when we had the opportunity to do so was extremely encouraging from my perspective."

The Walsall boss felt there were plenty of positives to take from his side’s display at Ewood Park but admits there was a tinge of frustration to come out on the losing side.

"Ross Tierney - what a performance he put in. He looks one hell of a player and showed just why we've brought him to the football club," the Walsall boss added.

"The more pleasing thing was how diligent and how disciplined he was in doing the work that I asked him too.

"There were positives all over the pitch. I am really chuffed for Ronan scoring his first career goal and I thought it was a great finish. I was frustrated we didn't see it out but as I say there are plenty of positives."