MK Dons 2 Walsall 4 - match report
Walsall made it back-to-back wins after Will Grigg's brace inspired them to a thrilling victory at MK Dons.
Febian Brandy and Grigg's brilliant goal gave the Saddlers a 2-1 first-half lead – cancelling out Ryan Lowe's early opener.
Dean Bowditch made it 2-2 after just 31 minutes before Grigg continued a post-Christmas goalfest before the break.
Jamie Paterson's classy strike in injury time then sealed the win for Walsall.
Patrick Bamford and Antony Kay hit the woodwork for Dons while Grigg struck the bar in the second half as Walsall go 16th in League One.
The Saddlers were unchanged but started slowly and Lowe made up for an early miss when he headed in Adam Chicksen's cross after just six minutes.
It put the hosts on top but Walsall fought back with admirable spirit to level through Brandy.
The striker skipped through a parting Dons defence on 15 minutes to slam into the roof of the net from six yards.
And it got better for the Saddlers when Grigg fired them in front after 25 minutes.
The striker still had a lot to do when he expertly collected Paterson's long ball to face up Mathais Doumbe.
He took another touch, out-muscled the flailing defender to go clean through and stroke into the bottom corner from 18-yards.
It was a super goal but one which was cancelled out six minutes later when Bowditch curled into the corner after Lowe's knockback.
The goalrush continued though as Grigg wrestled the lead back for Walsall, tapping in Brandy's cross from two yards just before the break.
And there was still time for Andy Butler to clear Bowditch's goalbound effort in first-half injury time.
Dean Lewington headed wide just after the break and Lowe flashed a dangerous cross across the box before Grigg sliced off target on 63 minutes.
A minute later the Dons struck the post through Bamford's deflected effort before Kay then headed the resulting corner onto the other upright.
Then Grigg, hunting his hat-trick, headed against the Dons' bar with 17 minutes to go as the Saddlers chased a game-clinching fourth.
They were holding firm at the back as MK Dons ran out of ideas and Walsall struck their fourth in injury time.
A short free kick found Paterson and he curled in, via the post, from the edge of the area to seal the points.
