Walsall 0 Notts County 1

Lee Hughes downed woeful Walsall as Notts County piled more relegation pressure on the sloppy Saddlers.

The former Albion star, who was charged with sexual assault yesterday, drilled in after just three minutes to win it for the Magpies.

The Saddlers rarely threatened but were denied a priceless point after George Bowerman's second half goal was harshly ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Stuart Nelson by Manny Smith.

They deserved little reward though – despite an improved second half performance – which keeps them out of the League One relegation zone on goal difference.

But after just two minutes and 21 seconds County scored when Hughes latched onto Ben Burgess' flick and drilled unerringly past Jimmy Walker from 16-yards.

It was a disastrous start from the Saddlers and almost got worse a minute later when Alan Judge curled inches wide from the edge of the area.

County were dominant against the hosts and only Walker's dive kept out Burgess' deflected drive.

Walsall failed to keep possession as the visitors – winless in their last eight games – bossed their hosts with worrying ease.

Jon Macken limped off with a hamstring injury eight minutes before the break – and was replaced by Bowerman to compound the Saddlers' woes.

They had stopped the tide of County attacks but barely had the quality to mount any of their own.

Jamie Paterson was well shackled by the visitors, who regularly put three men on the 20-year-old winger to nullify his threat.

Walker was replaced by David Grof at half time with a hamstring injury and the Saddlers conjured their best chance on 56 minutes when Anton Peterlin fed Alex Nicholls, only for the striker to shoot straight at Nelson.

Florent Cuvelier replaced Peterlin on the hour to mark his debut after signing on loan from Stoke and instantly brought a measure of missing quality

And the Saddlers thought they had equalised with 17 minutes remaining after Bowerman tapped in following Smith's challenge on Nelson.

But Smith was penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper – although the decision looked harsh – and was booked for his furious protests.

The Saddlers were at least pressing – however ineffectively – and County were restricted to efforts from distance.

And although the visitors were forced to frantically defend at the death they held on.