Northampton 2 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

A Matt Taylor header and Alex Revell penalty saw the Cobblers extend their outstanding home record – which has now seen them go 31 league games unbeaten at Sixfields.

Jon Whitney's side were made to pay for a lack of cutting edge, with both teams struggling to create chances but with Robert Page's side more clinical when opportunities did come their way.

It means Walsall have lost three of their last four League One fixtures, with Whitney's side dropping to 20th in the table.

The boss sprung a surprise in naming his starting XI and handed full-league debuts to both Amadou Bakayoko and Maz Kouhyar.

There was also a first appearance in Saddlers colours for Scott Laird after the left-back was snapped up on loan from Scunthorpe on deadline day.

It meant the Saddlers continued to operate in their favoured 4-2-3-1 formation with Bakayoko the lone frontman, Kouhyar wide left and Kieron Morris wide right.

Returning internationals Simeon Jackson and Andreas Makris were named amongst the substitutes where they were joined by Franck Moussa. Flo Cuvelier remained out of the match-day squad through injury.

For Robert Page's Northampton, former Bolton, Portsmouth and West Ham man Taylor started in midfield with Alex Revell up front.

The Cobblers began the game having gone a staggering 30 league games unbeaten at Sixfields Stadium.

And with that confidence, Page's side came flying out the traps with Kenji Gorre firing over after just 60 seconds following good work from Revell and Harry Beautyman.

The game had proved a cagey affair in the opening 10 minutes but it sprung to life following some brilliance from Bakayoko.

The striker picked up the ball wide on the left and skipped past two challenges to enter the box before arrowing a strike into the bottom right corner.

Sadly for the Sierra Leone born forward, keeper Adam Smith was equal to the effort and produced a fine one-handed stop to push the ball around the post.

Northampton's game plan had been clear from the outset with Page's men keen to bypass the midfield, get the ball wide and whip deep crosses into the Saddlers box.

And it was a tactic that proved successful when they took the lead in the 23rd minute.

After Jason McCarthy's poor pass gave away possession, Northampton worked the ball to the left where Beautyman sent in a cross that Taylor expertly headed home.

Moments later and the Cobbers were on the attack again with Beautyman flashing a strike wide of goal from eight yards.

The League Two champions continued to look the more dangerous as the clock ticked past the half hour mark.

And they threatened once again when Brendan Moloney escaped the attentions of Kouhyar and delivered a low cross which Swansea City loanee Gorre fired straight at Neil Etheridge.

With the hosts pressing well, Walsall's main threat was coming on the counter with Morris and Oztumer particularly combining well.

And the Saddlers worked themselves a glorious chance to pull level when, on the stroke of half-time, Oztumer clipped a wonderful ball to the back post.

The cross was met by Laird who arrowed a crisp, side-footed volley towards the bottom corner but his effort sailed agonisingly past the post.

Walsall were hugely indebted to keeper Etheridge at the start of the second half with the Philippines international producing an outstanding stop to keep out Revell.

The striker outmuscled Kevin Toner to connect with a right-wing cross and power a header at goal. But Etheridge was equal to the effort and spectacularly pushed the ball away from point-blank range.

Page's side had started the second well with Taylor firing straight at Etheridge following a succession of corners.

Whitney responded by making his first change with Moussa replacing Kouhyar. The boss then introduced Simeon Jackson for Kinsella with the Saddlers switching to a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Both sides had struggled to create chances as the clock ticked towards the 70 minute mark.

But a sudden burst of life from the Cobblers saw Page's side wrap up the points with the hosts first threatening when Revell arrowed a fierce drive from the edge of the box which Etheridge tipped over.

From the resultant corner, the ball struck the arm of McCarthy with referee Gavin Ward pointing to the penalty spot. Revell stepped up to convert, with the 33-year-old sending Etheridge the wrong way for his fourth of the season.

Whitney introduced Makris for Morris with 10 minutes remaining.

But while the Saddlers went in search of a goal that would get them back into the game, they were unable to truly test Smith with the Cobblers running out deserved winners.