SADDLERS SLIP AT HOME
THE SADDLERS returned to home action for the visit of Leyton Orient.
The first attempt at goal came from James Baxendale in the eighth minute when his attempted lob landed just over.
It was the visitors who took the lead with their first effort on goal with 11 minutes on the clock when Lee Cook lashed the ball home beyond Karl Darlow.
There was a good save from Darlow in the 22nd minute when Dean Cox's header from close range was pushed away acrobatically as The Saddlers struggled to get into gear in the opening exchanges.
Some more desperate defending ended with Andy Taylor hooking clear from in front of goal after a corner was not cleared properly.
The visitors doubled their advantage on the half-hour when Dean Cox somehow found the net from just over the half-way line.
Walsall tried to hit back straight away as Jamie Paterson got in a powerful low strike that was deflected just wide of the target.
HALF-TIME: Walsall 0 Leyton Orient 2
The second period started with a Walsall free-kick right on the edge of the area that was lashed into the defensive wall by Andy Taylor.
There was a booking for Nicky Featherstone on 50 minutes for a foul.
Walsall had a lifeline on 58 minutes when Ben Purkiss was brought down in the area by Gary Sawyer to win a penalty which Will Grigg despatched to make it 2-1.
There was a spring to The Saddlers' step at this stage and Bowerman linked up with Jamie Paterson whose strike was gathered at the second attempt by Ryan Allsop in The O's goal. Moments later, Bowerman went close himself as the ball flew over.
With quarter-of-an-hour to go, Febian Brandy came on for James Baxendale.
A free-kick from Andy Taylor came through a crowd of players and was well saved by Allsop.
The next action saw Cuvelier receive a yellow card for a foul just inside the opposition half.
A further change saw Paterson replaced by Ashley Hemmings.
There were loud appeals for a penalty as Brandy burst into the area and was tackled from behind, but the referee was unimpressed.
Leyton Orient breathed a huge sigh of relief with five minutes to go when the ball pinged around their goal and hit the base of the post before finally being cleared to safety.
The final change came when Richard Taundry replaced Ben Purkiss late on.
Grigg lashed over after being played in by Bowerman.
Another shout for a penalty after Cuvelier was barged down from behind waved away as Walsall pushed men forward - including 'keeper, Karl Darlow at a late corner - but in the end we couldn't find an equaliser.
FULL-TIME: Walsall 1 Leyton Orient 2
WALSALL: Darlow, Butler, Holden, Featherstone, Cuvelier, Grigg, Paterson (Hemmings), Purkiss (Taundry), Bowerman, Baxendale (Brandy), A. Taylor.