Carlisle 1 Walsall 3

Wonderful Walsall claimed a stunning win at Carlisle as they jumped off the bottom of League One.

The Saddlers capitalised on some slack defending by the Cumbrians as Matt Gill and Julian Gray's double moved them to within four points of safety.

But controversy surrounded the Saddlers' second when Gray scored on the break – seconds after Oliver Lancashire looked to have pushed Danny Livesey in the box.

Peter Murphy headed a consolation for the hosts in the second minute of stoppage time.

But it was a thoroughly deserved victory, with Dean Smith's men clinical in box boxes.

Smith made one enforced change with Carlisle loanee Jason Price unable to play against his parent club, as Richard Taundry returned to the starting line-up.

Jon Macken saw the first chance of the game blocked by Livesey and the striker then curled wide after 16 minutes during a low-key opening.

The Saddlers hadn't been troubled until United came close twice in three minutes, as goalkeeper Jimmy Walker saved Ben Marshall's effort before Murphy's header hit the bar from James Berrett's corner.

It sparked a brief spell of Carlisle pressure, but the Cumbrians failed to capitalise and paid the price eight minutes before the break.

Taundry was sent clear on the right and his low ball evaded the onrushing Macken, but Alex Nicholls retrieved the situation to turn the ball back for Gill to stroke in from 10 yards.

It was the Saddlers' first shot on target as they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

The hosts were booed off at half time and made two changes at the break with Marshall coming off for Tom Taiwo and Matty Robson replaced by Rory Loy.

Craig Curran fired over after 51 minutes with United fresh from an interval rollicking by boss Greg Abbott and Walker had to be alive to smother Loy's low effort four minutes later.

The Cumbrians were screaming for a penalty on 59 minutes when Livesey seemed to be pushed by Lancashire, but referee Colin Webster waved their claims away.

It proved to be crucial as immediately the Saddlers broke, Macken lobbed the ball over for Gray for the winger to burst clean through and make no mistake from 12 yards.

The winger then bagged his second 18 minutes from time when Nicholls broke the offside trap to cross to the far post for Gray to net.

It wrapped up the points for the Saddlers and sparked a mass exodus from the home fans.

Walker stopped Loy's sharp strike before Murphy netted with a header in injury time for United's consolation.

The goalkeeper then tipped over Patrick Madden's header as Walsall ran out deserved winners.