Walsall suffered their fifth successive defeat after they were narrowly beaten by Mansfield Town at the Banks’s Stadium.
Former Saddlers striker Andy Cook gave the visitors the lead before substitute Elijah Adebayo levelled for Darrell Clarke’s side in the first half.
Walsall missed a number of chances before Mansfield restored their lead midway through the second half through Alex MacDonald.
Darrell Clarke made four changes from the side that fell to a 2-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic on Tuesday.
Callum Cockerill-Mollett, Liam Kinsella, Cameron Norman and Kory Roberts came into the side in place of Cameron Pring, Elijah Adebayo, James Clarke and the suspended Mat Sadler.
The first 15 minutes were lively as both sides created early opportunities. Cockerill-Mollett came close for the Saddlers after seven minutes when he tried to stab Alfie Bates’ corner into the net but Conrad Logan beat it away before Kory Roberts’ effort on the rebound was blocked.
Rose was forced into a save five minutes later when he dived low to his right to parry Nicky Maynard’s header away.
The hosts were dealt a blow on 25 minutes when Josh Gordon was forced off with an injury. Elijah Adebayo came on in his place.
Five minutes later, the Stags opened the scoring when Cook headed Otis Khan’s cross past Jack Rose.
Walsall looked to respond immediately and missed a glorious opportunity to equalise when Adebayo rounded the keeper and set up Gaffney who shot first time but his goal-bound effort was blocked.
The Saddlers continued to probe and got their reward on the stroke of half-time when Adebayo headed Holden’s free-kick into the back of the net.
Clarke’s men were looking to push on in the second half. Adebayo could have had a second early in the second half but his curling effort was pushed away by Logan.
Walsall looked the more likely in the second half and came close again when Kinsella won the ball inside Mansfield’s half and played in Gaffney whose effort was blocked by Logan.
The Saddlers were made to pay for their missed chances when MacDonald struck for the Stags just moments later to restore their lead.
Walsall were chasing the game but had Jack Rose to thank for keeping them in it with ten minutes to go when Cook’s cut back came off the head of Dan Scarr inside the six-yard box.
Mansfield saw the game out to take home all three points.