Colchester 0 Walsall 2 - Report and pictures

After Jordan Cook had hit the post, Anthony Forde put the Saddlers ahead with a header.

The hosts had several chances to level and Alex Wynter hit the bar from close range.

But Michael Cain ensured they would pay for their profligacy when he slotted home the visitors' second 15 minutes from time.

It capped an afternoon where from a Saddlers point of view the result was more impressive than the performance.

Dean Smith's side kept a third consecutive clean sheet on their travels but that owed plenty to the hosts failing to take advantage of some questionable defending.

Still, the Saddlers are now unbeaten in six away league games and have won four of those. If they can resolve their home form, a play-off challenge may not yet be out of the question.

Smith responded to last week's 4-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe by dropping vice captain Paul Downing, as Ben Purkiss made a return to the starting line-up.

But Downing's exile last less than four minutes, as he was introduced as an early substitute for James O'Connor.

The latter sustained a cut to his head, which occurred after the Saddlers failed to clear a free-kick and goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell had denied Sanchez Watt at close range.

The visitors were living dangerously and O'Donnell was required to make a strong save from Sammie Szmodics soon after when the midfielder went clean through on goal.

A mix-up between James Chambers and O'Donnell almost saw the goalkeeper handle outside his own box.

Then another mis-communication, this time between the shot-stopper and Andy Taylor, was nearly catastrophic as Rhys Healey won the ball in the box.

Luckily for the Saddlers, the striker rushed his shot and Chambers was able to recover and clear it in front of goal.

Walsall had barely threatened but on the half hour mark were inches from taking the lead when Cook fired against the upright from a tight angle.

Minutes later they were ahead as Forde started and finished the move.

He picked up the ball in midfield before driving forward and continuing his run into the box to meet Cook's cross and head past home keeper Sam Walker.

Colchester looked to hit back immediately and George Moncur drove wide after robbing Purkiss, while O'Donnell was forced to push David Fox's long range drive wide.

His opposite number was called into action early in the second half to hold a Forde free-kick while Elliott Hewitt rushed an effort at the other end and fired straight at O'Donnell.

Much like the first half the game was lacking in quality. Szmodics missed a good chance for the hosts when he controlled Watt's cross in space inside the box but could only volley well over the bar.

Wynter went even closer to a leveller when he headed Kaspars Gorkss cross off the bar from close range and with the goal gaping, the hosts were unable to bundle the rebound home.

Szmodics had another effort saved by O'Donnell after catching James Chambers napping as the Saddlers continued to look shaky in defence.

Cook came within inches of giving them breathing room when he dragged a shot inches wide of the post.

With 15 minutes to go, Cain dealt the killer blow when he turned home from ten yards out after Bradshaw had beaten his man out wide and crossed for the midfielder racing into the box.