Rampant Walsall claimed a League One lifeline after smashing a stunning SIX past relegation rivals Bristol Rovers.

The Saddlers ran riot to lift themselves off the bottom of the table for their first win in seven games and score six in the league for the first time in Banks’s Stadium history.

It was also the first time Walsall had scored six in the league since 1986 – a 6-0 win at Fellows Park over Bristol Rovers.

They had previously hit eight at the Banks’s in an 8-4 FA Cup win over Torquay in 1995 and also smashed Mansfield 7-0 at Moss Rose in 1997.

It also dealt a significant psychological blow to drop rivals Rovers who are now just four points ahead of Walsall.

They are seven points from safety after goals from Matt Gill, Julian Gray, Matt Richards and Alex Nicholls and Andy Butler’s double racked up boss Dean Smith’s first victory as manager.

• See pictures of Walsall’s victory in our match action gallery

Jeff Hughes did briefly make it 3-1 four minutes after the break before Richards struck 60 seconds later.

Jimmy Walker was ruled out for personal reasons as David Bevan returned in goal while Jason Price was handed an immediate debut after signing on-loan from Carlisle as Will Grigg made way.

Manny Smith failed to shake off his knee knock while Richard Taundry had recovered from his ankle injury to make the bench.

And Price should have made an instant impact six minutes in.

The striker latched onto Butler’s long punt to race clear and with all the time in the world – with Albion loanee Luke Daniels backtracking – chipped wide.

Jon Macken had a goal disallowed for shirt pulling five minutes later but the Saddlers weren’t to be denied on 17 minutes.

Gill was chopped down by Stuart Campbell on the left and when Richards delivered the free-kick Butler rose highest to nod in from eight yards.

Jo Kuffour’s fine turn bamboozled the Saddlers and he fed Will Hoskins to scamper down the left and cross for Hughes – only for Bevan to claim his clipped shot.

But the hosts had been comfortable at the back and doubled their lead on 33 minutes thanks to a touch of class from Macken.

Richards was again central in the build-up as he fed Macken and the striker’s exquisite backheel found Gill for the midfielder to drill in low from 17-yards.

The Saddlers were in dreamland but it got better on the stroke of half time when Gray’s 18-yard volley arrowed into the bottom corner after Macken’s ball was only half cleared.

It was just reward for the hosts’ first-half performance but they conceded a sloppy goal just four minutes after the break when Hughes collected Scott Davies’ pass to stroke home.

But 60 seconds later the Saddlers restored their three goal advantage when Richards rifled in from 20-yards.

It was thrill-a-minute from the struggling teams and Hughes almost bagged a second when he charged down Bevan’s clearance 65 minutes in – only for the stopper to save his eventual shot.

The Saddlers continued to pour forward and got a fifth on 69 minutes when Macken supplied Nicholls, whose shot just crept over the line.

Four minutes later it was six when Butler bagged his second – heading in Gill’s right wing corner.

The Saddlers had crushed Rovers – deservedly so – and Nicholls and Gray went close again but couldn’t add to the score. Not that it mattered.