Walsall slipped into the relegation zone after slumping to their fifth successive League One defeat at Hartlepool.

Suicidal second-half defending allowed Andy Monkhouse to head in a second-half winner and condemn the Saddlers to a six straight loss in all competitions.

Julian Gray’s ninth minute strike had fired them ahead, before Anthony Sweeney’s acrobatic volley levelled ahead of the interval.

The pressure is now on manager Chris Hutchings ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Leyton Orient, as he battles to kick-start Walsall’s season.

Hutchings made three changes from last weekend’s defeat to Swindon with Oliver Lancashire, Alex Nicholls and Reuben Reid replacing Clayton McDonald, Paul Marshall and Darren Byfield respectively.

The teams, locked on six points each at the start of play, both desperately needed a win and the visitors were the first to threaten when Sam Collins blocked Jonathan Macken’s close range effort after 60 seconds.

Gray flashed one wide in a positive start from the Saddlers and Sweeney headed over following a game of pinball in the visitors’ area.

But it was first blood to the Saddlers after just nine minutes when Gray bagged his second goal of the season.

Hartlepool failed to clear Matt Richards’ deep free-kick and the ball eventually fell to Gray 10 yards out, whose first time volley beat goalkeeper Jake Kean too easily.

It was just reward for the Saddlers’ opening and Hartlepool’s lack of resistance only egged the visitors on.

The hosts didn’t trouble Walsall until Gary Liddle’s drive deflected wide on 21 minutes and, from the resulting corner, goalkeeper Jonny Brain produced a world class save.

Fabian Yantorno tossed in the flag kick which was met by Sweeney whose effort was heading in until Brain, diving in the opposite direction, stuck out a foot to turn it away.

One scare apart the Saddlers were comfortable against a Pools side clearly lacking confidence – before they were hit by a sucker punch a minute before the break.

Evan Horwood’s corner from the right was headed to Sweeney and his spectacular overhead kick from seven yards looped beyond Brain and dropped in.

It was harsh on the Saddlers and they almost restored their lead four minutes after the break when Reid’s shot whistled wide from Brain’s long clearance.

But the visitors were left wanting when it mattered most on 55 minutes when Monkhouse slotted Hartlepool ahead.

The home side won a free-kick on the right and when Horwood floated a cross in Monkhouse was left inexplicably unmarked to head in at the far post.

It was Sunday League defending at its worst and Sweeney headed straight at Brain with 15 minutes left, as the Saddlers struggled to hit back.

Monkhouse headed wide on 80 minutes as Walsall lacked the necessary drive and invention to salvage a point.

Kean saved Reid’s 18-yard snapshot and the on-loan Blackburn goalkeeper then excelled to block at the striker’s feet in injury time to preserve Pools’ points.