AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Walsall - Match report

Striker Lowe, who was named EFL Young Player of the Month for October this week, ghosted in at the back post to score his eighth league goal of the season after the break. 

The Saddlers jumped three places after a pair of goalless draws for Doncaster Rovers and Notts County while Crewe Alexandra face Port Vale on Monday night.

Walsall extended their unbeaten away run to five games in League Two and closed to gap behind league leaders Port Vale to three points. 

Mat Sadler named the same XI which drew 1-1 against Crewe Alexandra at Bescot before the international break. 

Harry Williams, who was cleared fit after passing concussion protocol this week, travelled with the squad along with Albion loanee Reyes Cleary but was not involved.

Wimbledon made three changes from their last-gasp draw against Accrington Stanley in midweek with Joe Lewis, Myles Hippolyte and Omar Bugiel replacing James Ball, James Furlong and Joe Pigott.  

Walsall returned to life on the road for the first time in almost a month as they looked to extend their unbeaten away record to five games. 

They had a couple of bright moments in the opening exchanges but were unable to build on that as the contest descended into a scrappy battle with neither side really able to provide a decisive moment of quality. 

Jamille Matt and Lowe often found themselves isolated up front in the first 45 with Walsall lacking both rhythm and precision in their build-up play. 

Wimbledon had a brief period where they were on top as Bugiel, who scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture in April, threatened to break in behind. Taylor Allen was alert to the danger as he shifted across to sweep the ball to safety with former Walsall striker Matty Stevens lurking behind him.

Stevens' tame header just past the half-hour mark was the only attempt on target in the first period but Wimbledon's leading frontman could only direct his effort straight at Tommy Simkin.

Walsall improved immediately after the break and Lowe had a chance just two minutes after the restart when he latched on to a long ball from Simkin before firing his finish straight at Owen Goodman. 

The Stoke City loanee would not pass up his next chance and opened the scoring for Walsall five minutes later to extend his season tally to 11 goals across all competitions. 

Connor Barrett spotted David Okagbue's underlapping run down the inside-right channel and the defender drilled a powerful low ball across the box which Lowe bundled home from close-range. 

Wimbledon had a pair of chances in quick succession to equalise when Bugiel drove a deflected effort wide and Hippolyte snuck in behind to force a smart save from Simkin. 

The hosts continued to knock on the door and came even closer when Hippolyte crashed an effort against the crossbar after a loose ball presented itself invitingly for the Grenada international inside the box.

Ryan Stirk came close to extending Walsall's advantage when he unleashed a bending effort just wide of the target from distance. 

Next, Walsall welcome newly-promoted Bromley to Bescot on Tuesday evening before hosting League One outfit Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup second round on Saturday next week.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; Okagbue, Daniels, Allen; Stirk; Barrett, Jellis, Lakin (Comley 72), L Gordon; Lowe, Matt (Adomah 77). 

Not used: Hornby, McEntee, Earing, Hall, Johnson.

Wimbledon (3-5-2): Goodman; Harbottle (Pigott 67), Lewis, Johnson; Neufville, Tilley, Smith, Maycock (Ogundere 67), Hippolyte; Stevens (Kelly 77), Bugiel. 

Not used: Ward, Furlong, Ball, Amissah.

Referee: James Durkin

Attendance:  7,519 (456)