Analysis: Lack of final third punch proves the difference for Walsall

But a lack of punch in the final third coupled with mistakes at the back ultimately led to Walsall’s downfall.

It was by no means a woeful display but they looked a shadow of the team that conquered promotion hopefuls Crewe Alexandra and Wrexham after Christmas, and Grimsby Town on New Year’s Day so impressively.

Expectations have inevitably increased following a remarkable run of results in recent weeks, and the challenge now is to produce an immediate response when Accrington Stanley travel to Bescot on Saturday.

Walsall remain in 13th, but now sit six points adrift of the play-offs as opposed to just three.

Mat Sadler named an unchanged XI from the FA Cup defeat at Championship outfit Southampton and they negotiated the opening exchanges relatively well.

Stockport dominated the early possession, but Walsall kept an organised shape, and nullified the hosts’ attacking threat.

Only Bradford (10) have conceded more in the first 15 minutes than Walsall (nine), while Stockport (11) have scored more in that time frame than any other side in the division.

But Sadler’s men have somewhat bucked the trend of conceding early in league games of late.

However, the problem with sitting so deep and spending large spells out of possession was that Walsall struggled impose themselves on the game in the final third, and the lack of a focal point up front made it even more difficult.

The strike partnership between Douglas James-Taylor and Danny Johnson played an instrumental role in propelling Walsall to a memorable 6-1 victory over Grimsby, but flattered to deceive at Edgeley Park, despite the former getting on the score sheet.

Tom Knowles was an outlet down the right, but it took Walsall a long time to grow into the half before they started to look a threat.

Priestley Farquharson was caught on the ball inside his own half, and Stockport very nearly took the lead as a result.

But Jackson Smith proved why he has been given the nod over Owen Evans in recent weeks with a superb finger-tip save to deny Odin Bailey’s header.

Hutchinson looked a threat on the rare occasions that he did link with James-Taylor, and Walsall began to click as the half wore on.

A heavy collision saw the linesman require treatment, and the pendulum appeared to be swinging in Walsall’s favour after a lengthy stoppage.

Knowles danced his way to the by-line and scooped an inviting cross into the box, but Liam Gordon somehow failed to find the target with a free header, as the Saddlers passed up a golden chance to take the lead.

At the other end, Akil Wright inflicted a sickening blow when his low drive from distance nestled into the bottom corner.

But James-Taylor escaped his marker and met Knowles’ pinpoint corner with a bullet header to send Walsall in level at the break.

The 22-year-old scored in back-to-back league games for the first time in his career, and provided Walsall with a platform to build from in the second half.

They started positively until Callum Camps’ free-kick crashed off the crossbar and on to the post, before Isaac Olaofe headed into an empty net.

Sadler responded by introducing Josh Gordon for his ‘second Saddlers debut’ at the expense of Johnson.

Knowles cut inside and forced a smart save from Ben Hinchliffe, while Farquharson could only direct his header across goal from Hutchinson’s floated cross.

But Liam Gordon’s reckless challenge on Connor Lemonheigh-Evans inside the box compounded an uncharacteristically poor afternoon for the Guyana international.

Substitute Paddy Madden stepped up to the spot and smashed it down the middle, and Walsall were left with a mountain to climb.

Whilst the contest hung in the balance for much of the game, Stockport began to showcase their brilliance once the shackles were off during the closing stages.

Smith denied Lemonheigh-Evans and Kyle Wootton with two impressive stops to keep the score down, as the home crowd reached fever pitch.

Walsall will need to dust themselves down, and regain focus with four of their next five games at the Bescot.

The Saddlers have collected 22 of their 36 points at home, and will be eager to make the Bescot a fortress during the second half of the campaign.