Jon Mellish's close-range finish secures MK Dons' 2-0 win at Walsall as Paul Warne's side go third in the table
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy had capitalised on defensive mistake for the opener
The hosts threatened an equaliser after an improved second-half display led to Daniel Kanu being twice denied by visiting goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray
The ninth-placed Saddlers, who were top on Boxing Day, are winless in their last seven league games
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Image source, ShutterstockAnother poor game at home for Mat Sadler and Walsall as their fading promotion hopes fade further.
A job very well done for MK Dons though who look well placed to make the step up to the third tier.
There's plenty of football left in the basement yet though, of course. Until next time...
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Right then, let's take a look at what's next for both these teams.
Walsall make the trip to an in-form Shrewsbury side who have won their past four games on the trot, while it's a mouth watering clash for MK Dons who travel to second-placed Cambridge.
Both games kick-off at 12:30 GMT on Saturday and you'll be able to follow them with us.
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Watching Walsall is awful. Two years in a row, from top of the table to being kick and rush .
G, Walsall
Tactically inept and clueless. Dreadful football.
Anas, Walsall
Sadler can’t change he has one style of play - unfortunately it isn’t good enough
Shaun, Great Wyrley
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Image source, ShutterstockSince topping League Two on Boxing Day, here is how Walsall have fared in their following 10 league games.
What is perhaps most jarring is that only three of those teams are currently in the top 10.
It's not how Walsall would want to be compared to Arsenal...
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Sadler has to go, time for some fresh ideas.
Andy, Croydon
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Walsall, like Arsenal of old. Bottle jobs.
Adrian, Portsmouth
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Tom Heslop
Member of Walsall media team on BBC WM
Image source, ShutterstockDo things need to change?
I love Mat Sadler, but things may have run its cause now.
They are three points away from the play-offs, that's one game but the momentum is against them.
Sadler probably needs to lean on his experienced players to the upmost extent to get back to winning ways.
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Toby Lock
MK Citizen sports editor on BBC Three Counties Radio
It was pretty routine in the end for MK Dons.
Come here, do the business, keep Walsall at arms length and get down the road.
FT: Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Image source, BBC SportIs Paul Warne getting another promotion?
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Image source, ShutterstockAll over! A job well done from the visitors as Walsall frustrate again.
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
MK Dons are on their way to League One according to those away fans. Hard to argue perhaps?
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Taxi for Sadler! January transfer window was predictably limp. Garbage.
Rob, Burton
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Great score Dons, let's hope you can do the same on Saturday and leap over Cambridge into second spot.
Dave, Bedford
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
SIX minutes added on as the MK Dons party have a, well, party in the away end.
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Tom Heslop
Member of Walsall media team on BBC WM
There aren't goals in this team other than Daniel Kanu and that is a big, big issue.
The goals are not being shared around and I don't think that's going to change going forward, but something's got to change.
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Ninth is a long way from relegation - but I take your point...
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator
I don't think you can say that the players are not trying for the manager, but they are just spinning the wheels.
There's no imagination.
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Yet another dismal performance. Sadler needs to go. Football is stale, formation [is] stale - keep this up and relegation with be a definite next season.
Chris, Walsall
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
Paul Dixon
BBC Three Counties Radio commentator
It was swung in by Liam Kelly, it was a whipping and teasing ball and Mellish was at the near post to prod it home.
A sense of relief if anything else.
Walsall were top of League Two on Boxing Day but have won just one of their past 10 games
MK Dons picked off out-of-sorts Walsall to claim victory and heap more pressure on under-fire home boss Mat Sadler.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy finished off a slick move emanating from Priestley Farquharson's risky pass on the half-hour.
The Saddlers improved after being booed off at half-time, but Paul Warne's promotion hunters withstood pressure to seal a sixth win in eight unbeaten Sky League Two outings through Jon Mellish's finish four minutes from time.
Farquharson's error gifted Mellish the ball, with Alex Gilbey setting up Hepburn-Murphy to calmly curl the opener inside the far post.
Injured referee Peter Wright was replaced by fourth official Dean Watson, but there was no change to the pattern of the game with Kacper Lopata blocking Hepburn-Murphy's point-blank shot late in the first half.
Walsall showed far more energy after the break, with Daniel Kanu's 57th-minute effort needing a strong right hand from Craig MacGillivray at his near post.
Courtney Clarke thumped over a 25-yard drive and Kanu drew another save from MacGillivray, but Mellish secured the points when he thumped in the rebound from Scott Hogan's blocked effort.
Report supplied by PA Media.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 56 | 34 | 22 | 65 |
| |
| 33 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 48 | 26 | 22 | 63 |
| |
| 33 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 62 | 33 | 29 | 61 |
| |
| 33 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 52 | 32 | 20 | 61 |
| |
| 34 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 56 | 40 | 16 | 61 |
| |
| 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 53 |
| |
| 33 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 52 | 43 | 9 | 53 |
| |
| 31 | 16 | 4 | 11 | 44 | 41 | 3 | 52 |
| |
| 32 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 35 | 5 | 50 |
| |
| 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 49 |
| |
| 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 37 | 8 | 49 |
| |
| 33 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 37 | 5 | 47 |
| |
| 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 46 |
| |
| 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 43 | 42 | 1 | 44 |
| |
| 31 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 42 |
| |
| 32 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 40 | 41 | -1 | 41 |
| |
| 33 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 35 |
| |
| 33 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 31 | 51 | -20 | 35 |
| |
| 32 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 33 | 54 | -21 | 35 |
| |
| 33 | 9 | 3 | 21 | 32 | 56 | -24 | 30 |
| |
| 34 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 33 | 54 | -21 | 28 |
| |
| 32 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 33 | 50 | -17 | 27 |
| |
| 34 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 51 | -27 | 26 |
| |
| 33 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 32 | 60 | -28 | 24 |
|
Manager: Mat Sadler
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Paul Warne
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Mat Sadler
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Paul Warne
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
League Two
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
After winning this season’s reverse fixture (1-0 in August), Walsall will be aiming to do a league double over MK Dons for the first time since 2012-13 in League One (1-0 at home, 4-2 away).
MK Dons have lost two of their last three away league games against Walsall (D1), as many defeats as they suffered away to them in the Football League across their first 11 (W5 D4 L2).
Walsall won five of their first six home games in League Two this season (L1), but have since won just two of their last nine (D3 L4), going winless in their last four (D2 L2).
MK Dons have only lost three of their last 17 away games in League Two (W8 D6), with all three defeats coming by just a one-goal margin.
