Walsall 0 Leyton Orient 2 - Report and pictures

The visitors arrived at the Banks's in the relegation zone amid rumours their players had not been paid.

But they took a deserved lead when Ryan Hedges drilled home from Josh Wright's flick.

And when Chris Dagnall doubled the advantage three minutes later, there was no way back for the lacklustre Saddlers.

Dean Smith's men did not force Orient keeper Alex Cisak to break sweat until a stoppage time shot from Amadou Bakayoko.

The result drops them seven points behind sixth-placed Doncaster, while they are now just six points above the drop zone ahead of Tuesday's trip to Yeovil.

Smith had been able to welcome back top scorer Tom Bradshaw after five games out with a hamstring problem. Hiwula was also included in the starting line-up out wide after Anthony Forde missed out following a recurrence of a groin strain.

Paul Downing, who missed Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Preston with a thigh injury, was on the bench as James O'Connor and James Chambers continued together in central defence.

Orient, who kicked-off amid stories their players had not been paid, included on loan Burnley full-back Luke O'Neill in their starting line-up.

Home full-back Andy Taylor had the first attempt of the game but his free-kick was straight at Cisak, as was Jordan Cook's attempt from a similar position soon after.

Otherwise it was scrappy stuff for the first 25 minutes before Saddlers keeper Richard O'Donnell prevented the visitors taking the lead when he denied Jobi McAnuff one-on-one with a sprawling save, after the winger had been sent clear.

Orient goals: Hedges 56', Dagnall 59'

Walsall: O'Donnell, Purkiss, O'Connor, Chambers J, Taylor, Cain (Flanagan 66), Chambers A ©, Hiwula, Sawyers, Cook (Grimes 74), Bradshaw (Bakayoko 81)

Subs not used: Downing, Baxendale, Murphy, MacGillivray (gk).

Orient: Cisak, O'Neill, Lowry (Cuthbert 90), Baudry, Dossena, Hedges (Cox 74), Wright, Vincelot ©, McAnuff, Dagnall (Simpson 83), Mooney

Subs not used: Sawyer, Clarke, Bartley, Woods.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear)

The hosts were living dangerously and lucky to survive when Dagnall got away on the right-hand side of the box only to shoot wide first time.

Mooney then fired just wide of the far post from close range after turning O'Connor and as the hosts continued to struggle, Dagnall headed wide from a McAnuff cross.

Romaine Sawyers saw a shot deflect wide off Bradshaw as the Saddlers looked to begin the second half with more purpose.

But they were soon behind as Hedges got the goal the visitors deserved, driving low into the bottom corner after racing onto Josh Wright's clever flick.

And three minutes later the lead was doubled, Dagnall firing high over O'Donnell and in after Hedges found him in acres of space on the right of the box.

The Saddlers had half-an-hour to respond but failed to muster a single decent chance as Orient saw the game out with ease. Indeed, they might have won by more had substitute Jay Simpson not scuffed a late chance wide of the target.

Amadou Bakayoko then finally forced Cisak into a serious save in stoppage time but it was too little, too late.