Walsall suffered their third home defeat of the season as they were left to rue a slow start against Burton Albion.

First-half goals from Jamie Allen and Devante Cole and a goal two minutes into the second half from Scott Fraser sent the Brewers home with all three points.

But with just over 10 minutes of normal time to play, the Saddlers gave themselves a late lifeline when Andy Cook scored his seventh goal of the season but that was all the game wrote. 

With just three minutes on the clock, the away side could have taken the lead through Fraser. The midfielder was found unmarked in the box eight yards out but his powerful effort was well saved by Liam Roberts. 

Two minutes later and the Nigel Clough’s side had another chance to break the deadlock, this time from the spot following Isaiah Osbourne’s foul just inside the area. 

Up stepped Liam Boyce but the midfielder saw his effort cannon back off the crossbar. 

With 13 minutes played, the visitors took the lead, if not in slightly fortunate circumstances. 

A short free-kick was teed up for Allen to hit and his effort took a deflection off a Saddlers man and it wrong footed Roberts and subsequently found the back of the net. 

As 25 minutes ticked over, Burton doubled their lead. A neat pass in behind the Saddlers defence from Fraser set Cole away and the striker lifted it over Roberts into the far corner.

Two minutes into the second half and Burton secured the win as Fraser pinched the ball off George Dobson just inside the box before firing across goal into the far corner. 

With 56 minutes played, the Saddlers nearly found a way back into the game through Andy Cook. 

After being played through, Cook saw his first effort saved by Bradley Collins but it rebounded back off the striker and from a tight angle, the Saddlers’ top goal scorer hit the post. 

As the game entered the last 13 minutes, the Saddlers got themselves back into the game as Morgan Ferrier skipped past Lucas Akins before sending a driven cross in towards Cook who bundled the ball home.