Salford 1-0 Walsall: Saddlers suffer third successive defeat in League Two
Fabio Borini netted the match-winner for Salford City to condemn Walsall to three successive defeats for the first time during Mat Sadler's reign.
The game only sparked into life in the final 20 minutes when Ryan Graydon unleashed a looping half-volley on to the top of the crossbar.
Evan Weir's deflected effort was excellently kept out by Matty Young, before former Liverpool attacker Borini climbed off the bench to score the winning goal in the 74th-minute.
Sixth-placed Salford stretched the gap ahead of Walsall to eight points after handing them their sixth defeat in eight games in League Two.
They remain just three points adrift of Grimsby Town, who occupy the final play-off spot, but have collected just two wins from their last 14 games.
The original fixture was due to be played on Valentine's Day, but was postponed due to Salford reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Mat Sadler made just the one change as Priestley Farquharson returned to the defence at the expense of Harrison Burke who scored in a 1-0 win over the Ammies in the reverse fixture.
Alex Pattison reportedly missed out due to illness and Kacper Lopata also dropped out of the squad, as Connor Barrett returned to the bench.
Neither goalkeeper was called upon during a drab first 45 minutes, which generated minimal action in the final third.
Aden Flint nodded comfortably wide of the near post after Jamie Jellis delivered a chipped cross after working his corner short.
Evan Weir shanked his clearance into danger but Salford failed to capitalise when Ros Longelo blasted his effort out of the ground.
Walsall marshalled the threat of Graydon and Cole Stockton with relative ease, but were unable to penetrate the Salford defence at the other end.
Zach Awe had the first chance of the second half for Salford when he slipped between a pair of weak challenges from Farquharson and Charlie Lakin, before slicing a wild effort off target.
The first shot on target arrived midway into the second half when Young sprung into an excellent reactive save to thwart Weir's deflected drive.
Graydon escaped the offside trap to find himself in behind but his dinked finish over Roberts was cleared in front of goal by Vincent Harper.
Substitute Borini wriggled his way into the box after collecting a low feed by Graydon into his path, before thumping his finish beyond Roberts to open the scoring with 16 minutes to go.
Sadler made four changes in quick succession - including the introductions of Courtney Clarke and Mason Hancock - who both combined to create an opening.
Clarke found the overlapping run of Hancock but fellow substitute Jamille Matt was unable to get on the end of his low cross to the back post.
Next, Walsall travel to local rivals Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, before playing host to Cambridge United next week.
Teams
Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Farquharson, Flint, Weir; Comley; Okeke, Jellis (Hancock 79), Lakin (Clarke 76), Harper (Barrett 79); Pressley (Matt 76), Kanu.
Not used: Hornby, Burke, Adomah.
Salford (3-5-2): Young; Cooper, Awe, Turton; Mnoga, Grant (Ehibhatiomhan 67), Butcher, Austerfield (Ashley 67 - Dorrington 86), Longelo (Oluwo 85); Stockton (Borini 67), Graydon.
Not used: Howard, Siri.
Other details
Referee: Martin Grunnill
Attendance: 2,011 (246)
