Walsall finally broke their home hoodoo thanks to birthday boy Darren Byfield and former Huddersfield trainee Dwayne Mattis.

The Saddlers had waited six months and 10 games for a win at the Banks’s Stadium and did it the hard way as they came from behind.

Theo Robinson opened the scoring 90 seconds after the break – as the Saddlers claimed offside – but Byfield levelled from the spot after 64 minutes, when Joe Skarz handled Alex Nicholls’ header.

And Huddersfield-born Mattis won it for Chris Hutchings’ side, when he rifled in from 18-yards with three minutes left.

Rhys Weston returned for Darryl Westlake at right back – the only change from the no-show at Hartlepool on Saturday.

The hosts started brightly as Byfield shot wide and Alex Nicholls’ corner was headed off the line by Antony Kay. The Saddlers, eager to show their north east outing was a one-off, then saw Mattis’ shot clip the outside of the post after 21 minutes.

Huddersfield should have opened the scoring soon after, when Anthony Pilkington’s cross deflected to an unmarked Robinson but he planted his free header straight at goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

As let offs go it was huge and soon after Matt Richards forced visiting goalkeeper Alex Smithies to save his low free kick.

The Saddlers felt they should have had a penalty, when Peter Clarke seemed to trip Troy Deeney but the striker was booked for diving instead.

The game needed a goal and, while the hosts looked most likely to provide it, Jim Goodwin almost found the opener on half-time but blazed over from 18 yards.

But 90 seconds into the second-half the visitors broke the deadlock when Robinson beat the offside trap, rounded Gilmartin and beat Mark Hughes on the line.

It sparked anger from the Saddlers bench, who were convinced the striker was offside.

The Terriers started to take control and Rhodes fired over but the hosts levelled after 64 minutes, when Skarz handled Nicholls’ header and Byfield dispatched the spot-kick.

Both sides went for the win, but it was the Saddlers who grabbed it with four minutes left.

Sam Parkin cushioned down Richards’ cross to Mattis to find the corner and spark pandemonium.

The hosts endured some nervy moments and Gilmartin produced an outstanding block on Robbie Simpson as they hung on.