Half-Time Report: Febian Brandy hat-trick fires Walsall into healthy lead

Febian Brandy's first-half hat-trick has fired Walsall into a 3-0 half-time lead over Notts County at Meadow Lane in League One today.

Brandy bagged his first of the afternoon on 24 minutes by rounding Magpies goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski before slotting into the empty net.

Nine minutes later the 24-year-old doubled his team's advantage, expertly smashing past Bialkowski from inside the area after Craig Westcarr had gone close.

The Saddlers looked to capitalise on the punch-drunk state of their opponents as Westcarr had the opportunity to kill off the contest shortly after, but the Polish shot-stopper produced a smart save to maintain the two-goal deficit.

However, Brandy secured the match ball shortly before the interval by getting on the end of Westcarr's cross to head his and his team's third of the day to give Dean Smith's men a near-unassailable lead.