Walsall analysis: Saddlers slip off League Two summit after costly defeat

Two wins from the last 16 games paints the picture of their struggles since the end of January. 

At that point, Walsall had just put together a club record nine-match winning streak and had gone 16 games without tasting a defeat. 

That established a commanding 12-point lead at the top which they have somehow managed to lose in little over two months.

A pair of draws against AFC Wimbledon and Doncaster Rovers provided hope but they ended the afternoon in third as Port Vale and Bradford City overtook them. 

Doncaster Rovers also beat Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road in the other early kick-off to close the gap from fourth spot to just two points. 

If Rovers were to win their game in hand against Salford City later this month then Walsall could find themselves dropping out of the top three altogether. 

Every point matters and seven draws from the previous 11 before kick-off helped them cling on to top spot. 

But the lack of wins has ultimately led to their downfall and the margin for error is as tight as ever as they head into the final five games as one of the chasers rather than the league leaders. 

Mat Sadler remained unchanged from the team which began their 2-2 draw at Doncaster in midweek and they flew out of the traps from the first whistle. 

Liam Gordon embarked on a slaloming run down the left before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box for Jamille Matt to guide his header beyond the reach of Ben Amos inside the first 15 seconds. 

The celebrations would prove short-lived as Matt was penalised for the softest of pushes but that set the tone for a frantic first half. 

After four minutes, Lorent Tolaj was left unmarked at the back post as a long throw from the left found its way to the Swiss striker who unleashed a superb overhead kick past Sam Hornby with the aid of the post. 

But Walsall showed great energy in the opening exchanges and were rewarded for their endeavour when referee Lewis Smith pointed to the spot for a handball inside the penalty area. 

Taylor Allen, who started in midfield again, stepped up to the spot and scored for the third game in a row after rolling a composed finish into the bottom corner to move on to double figures for goals. 

Only Nathan Lowe (15) and Jamille Matt (12) have found the net more times than Allen in League Two this term. 

Levi Amantchi was also a bundle of energy in the first half-hour and completed a quick turnaround with a second Walsall goal in the 11th-minute. 

It came from a well worked throw-in routine. Evan Weir hurled the ball towards the near post where Oisin McEntee cushioned the ball down and hooked his cross into the danger area. 

Amantchi did the rest, ushering his marker out of the way before bringing the ball down nicely and tucking a clinical finish past Amos. 

He had another chance almost immediately from the kick-off but Amos emerged quickly to foil him. 

A third never arrived for Walsall and the tornado which they unleashed on Vale during the opening half-hour was tamed following an injury to Port Vale defender Kyle John. 

They just seemed to lose their momentum and rhythm somewhat. Vale sensed it and pounced to turn the tide before half-time. 

Ben Garrity was left completely unmarked deep inside the box to equalise after Walsall failed to clear their lines from a long throw. 

That has become a frequent theme of late, with Jayden Luker scoring unattended from the edge of the box in the 3-1 home defeat against Grimsby Town last month and Jordan Thomas doing likewise in the 2-2 draw at Cheltenham Town in February. 

When it rains it pours and Walsall were handed a second blow in quick succession when Vale were awarded a penalty on the cusp of half-time. Tolaj had gone down under a sliding challenge from McEntee and replays suggest the Irishman got a fair chunk of the ball. 

Nonetheless, Tolaj continued his glittering form in front of goal to confidently tuck his spot-kick past Hornby and deliver another major twist in a rollercoaster first half. 

The second half would be much less eventful. Sadler was proactive with his substitutions, bringing on Connor Barrett and George Hall at half-time, before introducing the likes of Albert Adomah, Ethan Wheatley and Danny Johnson as the game progressed. 

None of which provided the route to an equaliser and Walsall seriously lacked punch in the attack after such an energetic first 45. 

In fact, Vale probably looked the more threatening of the two teams after the break, with Hornby forced into a smart save by Garrity in the final 15 minutes. 

The ascendency is no longer with the Saddlers and they have five games to salvage their promotion push or else risk falling out of the top three altogether.