Walsall gifted Exeter their first win away win of the season after they slipped to a sloppy defeat at the Banks’s Stadium.

Alex Nicholls’ third goal in four games cancelled out Daniel Nardiello’s early opener, but the former Manchester United trainee cashed in on Jimmy Walker’s error 12 minutes from time to win it.

Will Grigg squandered a golden chance to level in injury time but headed Darryl Westlake’s cross wide.

Kevan Hurst and Jon Macken both hit the post for the Saddlers – who become the first team to ship goals to the Grecians at home this term.

Jon Macken and Richard Taundry returned for the benched Grigg and injured Adam Chambers respectively.

The hosts started brightly and Nicholls found goalkeeper Artur Krysiak’s midriff after seven minutes but 60 seconds later they fell behind.

Nardiello was allowed to cut in from the left and afforded too much time to pick his spot from 18-yards.

It was the first away goal Exeter had scored all season but their celebrations were cut short three minutes later when Nicholls levelled.

The striker latched onto Hurst’s neat header and drilled a low effort past Krysiak from 10-yads.

Two goals in the opening 11 minutes made a mockery of the two club’s goalscoring woes – Exeter and the Saddlers were the worst and joint worst scorers in the division prior to kick off.

David Noble should have fired the Grecians back in front on 17 minutes but blazed over, after Nardiello seized on Hurst’s sloppy pass.

The winger swiftly recovered, though, and almost scored twice within 30 seconds.

First his rasping low drive from 20-yards smacked the inside of Krysiak’s post, before the goalkeeper superbly tipped his curling effort over.

Liam Sercombe stabbed wide to remind the Saddlers of Exeter’s threat, but both sides’ momentum was hit by torrential rain which made the last 15 minutes of the first-half a washout.

The rain abated at the break and it was the visitors who settled quicker – but the Saddlers came within inches of taking the lead just before the hour.

Macken received the ball 18-yards out on the left and fired off stunning effort which rattled the top of the post.

But Walsall still failed to find the killer pass to prise open their visitors.

It left the Grecians in with a chance and they took in on 78 minutes, when Walker failed to keep stop Nardiello’s drive and the ball looped into the net.

The Saddlers’ tempo had disappeared but they should have levelled in injury time, substitute Will Grigg planted a free header wide.