Walsall 1-3 Grimsby: Saddlers' dismal run continues after successive home defeat

Ellis Harrison scored his third goal for Walsall when he converted at the end of a quick breakaway in the sixth-minute. 

Jayden Luker equalised after Walsall switched off at a set piece, and Danny Rose scored from the spot on cusp of half-time, after Taylor Allen was adjudged to have tripped Tyrell Warren inside the box.

Luker doubled his tally and Grimsby's lead in the 66th-minute when he latched on to Kieran Green's through ball to finish past Simkin. 

Walsall have lost successive home league games for the first time in three years and saw the gap behind fourth spot reduced to eight points following AFC Wimbledon's 2-0 win over Notts County. 

Bradford City, who trail Walsall by two points, have the opportunity to move top when they travel to Gillingham later this afternoon.

Mat Sadler made two alterations from the team which began their 1-1 draw at Carlisle United on Tuesday night.   

Harry Williams was handed his first start in five games at the expense of Oisin McEntee and Harrison returned from illness to start with former Grimsby striker Jamille Matt dropping to the bench. 

Grimsby, who headed into the game unbeaten in seven games, made three changes with Lewis Cass, Kieran Green and Evan Khouri brought in from their midweek draw against Tranmere Rovers. 

Walsall hit the front inside the first six minutes when Harrison marked his return from illness by adding the finishing touches to a quick breakaway. 

Ryan Stirk stole the ball in the heart of midfield and spotted Albert Adomah hovering between the lines. The 37-year-old slotted a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Harrison and the MK Dons loanee slammed an unerring finish into the far bottom corner. 

The front-two looked lively in the first 20 minutes and Adomah forced Jordan Wright into action when he beat Lewis Cass to David Okagbue's long ball and struck towards the near post on the half-volley. 

But Grimsby were level moments later when Walsall were punished for switching off at a set piece. Iceland international Svanthorsson worked his free-kick short to Luker on the edge of the box and the Grimsby midfielder was afforded an abyss of space to plant an accurate strike into the far bottom corner.

It was a very open contest after Grimsby equalised but Adomah had a presentable chance to restore their lead when he attempted a deft lob over the onrushing Wright which drifted away from the target. 

The Mariners took the lead on the cusp of half-time after Allen tripped substitute Warren inside the box. Rose stepped up and powered his spot-kick into the top corner to score his sixth goal in eight games in League Two. 

McEntee and Matt were introduced after the break with Lakin and Adomah making way but Walsall still looked nervy in the opening exchanges of the second period. 

Harrison gave the ball away just inside his own half and Grimsby quickly worked the ball to McEachran whose tame finish from the edge of the box was gathered with ease by Simkin. 

Walsall were sloppy and looked completely disjointed. And they fell further behind midway into the second half when Luker raced on to Green's through ball to calmly roll his finish past Simkin. 

Sadler responded with triple reinforcements. Evan Weir, Brandon Comley and Danny Johnson entered the drama for the closing stages but things showed no sign of improving. 

Walsall resorted to long ball tactics. Time after time, they were last to second balls, guilty of giving the ball away and prone to poor first touches.

Next, Walsall travel to Hayes Lane to face newly-promoted Bromley on Thursday night.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Stirk (Comley 67); Barrett, Jellis (Weir 67), Lakin (McEntee 46), L Gordon; Harrison (Johnson 67), Adomah (Matt 46).

Unused: Hornby, Amantchi.

Grimsby (3-4-2-1): Wright; Cass (Warren 40), Rodgers, McJannnet; Svanthorsson (Burns 82), McEachran, Green (Ainley 82), Hume; Khouri, Luker (Barrington 82); Rose.

Unused: Eastwood, Turi.

Referee: Scott Jackson 

Attendance: 6,255 (757)