Walsall 2-0 Newport County: Saddlers soar 12 points clear at the summit with a sixth straight win

Lowe opened the scoring 17 minutes from time and extended his tally to 16 goals across all competitions by doubling Walsall's advantage in stoppage time. 

The Stoke City loanee moved on to 13 goals for the campaign in League Two as Walsall extended their league unbeaten run to 13 matches.

The Saddlers also registered a fifth clean sheet on the spin in the league for the first time in 49 years.

Mat Sadler named an unchanged side from the 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers while opponents Newport made two changes from their 5-2 defeat at Bromley on Boxing Day. 

Former Walsall loanee Bryn Morris was not involved in the squad and Kyle Hudlin dropped to the bench as Kai Whitmore and Luke Jephcott were recalled.

Newport had the better of the opening exchanges as Walsall had to remain a solid unit out of possession. Kieron Evans created from deep with a series of diagonal passes and Michael Spellman threatened on a handful of occasions down the left. 

The Saddlers struggled in the rare moments they got hold of the ball and looked a little lethargic for much of the first half. To their credit, the defence restricted Newport to very little for all of their possession but Walsall rarely posed a threat in the final third in the first half-hour. 

They showed small signs of improvement just before the break with Jamille Matt and Lowe forcing comfortable saves from Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend. 

Despite not looking at their best, Walsall did come closest to breaking the deadlock on the cusp of half-time. Taylor Allen delivered a pinpoint corner to the near post where Lowe, who seemed stunned that the chance presented itself to him, headed wide from close-range.

Walsall created another chance two minutes after the restart when Matt planted his header wide of the far post from David Okagbue's clipped cross into the box. 

Jamie Jellis had a rare off day and struggled to get on the same page as Connor Barrett down the right. And Sadler made a triple change on the hour with the introductions of Oisin McEntee, Jack Earing and Albert Adomah as Jellis, Charlie Lakin and Jamille Matt made way.

Lowe had a great chance to open the scoring 19 minutes from time when he fired a close-range volley wide after Okagbue had flicked on Harry Williams' dangerous long throw at the near post. 

But the teenager would not waste his next opportunity less than 90 seconds later as he scored for the third league game on the spin to give Walsall a vital lead. 

Substitute Earing lifted a high cross to the back post where Allen cushioned his header down into the danger area. Lowe was inevitably on the prowl and poked the ball into the far corner with a neat finish. 

Walsall had chances to extend their advantage when Ryan Stirk was brilliantly denied his first goal of the season by Townsend. 

The visitors could only clear Allen's free-kick delivery as far as Stirk but Townsend sprawled to his right to masterfully turn his thumping effort from the edge of the box behind.

Earing was forced off with a knock in the dying stages after an impactful cameo from the bench. He was replaced by club captain Donervon Daniels who was unable to connect with his header from Allen's free-kick delivery in stoppage time. 

Newport boss Nelson Jardim used all five of his substitutions in the final 15 minutes in a desperate attempt to salvage a result but Walsall defended resolutely to keep any chance of a comeback at bay.

Lowe put the seal on the win deep into stoppage time by bagging his brace. Allen knocked the ball over the top and Lowe streaked clear of the County defence before burying a clinical finish into the bottom corner on the half volley. 

With that victory, Sadler became the first Walsall manager since Tommy Coakley in 1987 to register six straight league wins in a single season. 

The Saddlers sit 12 points clear of the three teams directly below them after Notts County beat Cheltenham Town to climb into second and Doncaster sit third after drawing 1-1 at Colchester United. 

Meanwhile, Port Vale slipped to fourth-place after being condemned to a 3-0 defeat at Grimsby Town.

Next, Walsall travel to Meadow Lane to face Notts County on New Year's Day and will be on the road again when they visit Cheltenham Town three days later.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Stirk; Barrett, Jellis (Earing 59), Lakin (McEntee 59), Gordon; Lowe, Matt (Adomah 59).

Unused: Hornby, Daniels (Earing 89) Weir, Johnson.

Newport (4-3-3): Townsend; Mcloughlin, Brennan, Baker, Glennon; Antwi (Miley 76), Evans, Whitmore (Jameson); Kamwa (Hudlin 86), Jephcott (Kargbo 76), Spellman (Greaves 76).

Unused: Carney, Clarke.

Referee: Carl Brook

Attendance: 6,706 (664)