Walsall 2 Peterborough 0 - Report and pictures

Walsall made it five straight wins in League One after securing a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Peterborough at the Banks's.

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Late goals from Jason Demetriou and George Evans ensured the Saddlers will begin 2016 sitting on top of the table.

It came following a hugely entertaining clash watched by 6,142 spectators.

The result also means new boss Sean O'Driscoll has enjoyed a hat-trick of wins in his opening three games in charge, with the Saddlers now back in action when they host Rochdale on Saturday.

Boss O'Driscoll made two changes from the side that secured a 1-0 Boxing Day win at fellow promotion hopefuls Millwall.

Switching to a midfield diamond formation, Sam Mantom and Jordan Cook were introduced at the expense of wingers Kieron Morris and Anthony Forde.

It meant Milan Lalkovic continued to operate as a striker, with the former Chelsea man joined by up front by Cook.

The latter had recovered from the ankle knock which saw him start on the bench at Millwall.

There was no place in the match-day squad for the injured Tom Bradshaw, while Rico Henry began his return from an ankle sprain among the substitutes.

For Graham Westley's Peterborough, there was a start for former Shrewsbury wide man Jon Taylor.

A lively opening saw both teams move the ball around well, but it was the Saddlers who registered the game's first real chance inside the opening five minutes.

Fine build-up play saw the ball worked to Mantom on the edge of the box and the midfielder arrowed a drive that seemed destined to nestle in the bottom corner but instead cannoned off the base of the post.

Peterborough responded with Christopher Forrester hitting a fierce drive from 25-yards that was expertly beaten away by goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

The game was proving a lively and entertaining affair, but Walsall were dealt a blow on 15 minutes when Paul Downing was forced to make way through injury with Matt Preston taking his place.

Undeterred, the Saddlers continued to press with visiting goalkeeper Alnwick forced into two quick-fire saves following strikes from Lalkovic and Cook.

O'Driscoll's side were playing with the confidence that comes from having won four straight League One games.

With Lalkovic and Sawyers producing tricks and Evans and Mantom getting forward, the Saddlers were dominating but without creating clear-cut chances.

But, with both teams playing at a high tempo, Peterborough continued to enjoy a threat on the break with the visitors coming a whisker away from breaking the deadlock minutes before the interval.

A fine move saw the ball worked to Michael Smith on the right and his cross was powerfully met in the air by Conor Washington.

But Etheridge was equal to the striker's effort, with the goalkeeper producing a spectacular fingertip save to push the ball over the bar.

It was Peterborough who were out of the blocks quickest at the start of the second-half, with Michael Bostwick hitting a fierce cross-come-shot which Etheridge had to palm away.

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Westley's side were suddenly rampant, with Washington producing an outstanding first touch to bring down Alnwick's long ball before then flashing a strike inches wide of goal.

Walsall fans were appealing for a penalty on the hour mark when a swift counter saw Lalkovic go down in the box as he tried to go past Miles Addison.

But, despite the striker's protests, referee Darren England made the correct decision by waving play on.

O'Driscoll's side were indebted to Etheridge again moments later when Mantom gave the ball away cheaply allowing Marcus Maddison to drive at goal.

The midfielder hit a rasping drive from 18-yards which a full-stretch Etheridge then tipped over.

Walsall had struggled to find their rhythm but they registered their first real chance of the half with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

Demetriou did brilliantly to get to the byline and dance past a defender before delivering a low cross which Lalkovic collected and then hit a shot that was well blocked.

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Peterborough hit-back with O'Connor being forced to hack off the line after Harry Beautyman tried his luck from distance with Etheridge out of position after punching clear a cross.

O'Driscoll responded by switching Mantom for Forde with 15 minutes still remaining and the move proved to be a masterstroke, with the Saddlers taking the lead just moments later.;

A quick break saw Forde play in the galloping Demetriou on the over-lap. The full-back kept his composure to hit a low drive which deflected off Maddison and into the net.

Minutes later, it was almost two, with Lalkovic cutting in from the left and seeing a shot saved by the keeper only for Cook to then acrobatically hook over the follow-up.

Walsall made their third substitution by introducing Morris for Cook. Once again, the change made all the difference with the Saddlers doubling their advantage in the last minute of the 90.

Morris produced a mazy run and, after tricking his way past a defender, found Evans who poked the ball past the keeper from close range.