Bournemouth 1 Walsall 2 - match report

The hitman struck his sixth of the season in the 89^th minute just as the Saddlers looked to have squandered the points.

Charlie Daniels had levelled with eight minutes remaining after Andy Butler's first-half header put the visitors ahead.

Dean Smith's were comfortable for long spells but failed to kill off the hosts until the death as they remain in the early League One play-off positions.

Walsall were unchanged after last weekend's impressive 3-1 win over Preston while the hosts handed a debut to ex-Villa and England keeper David James after he signed yesterday.

Lorenzo Davids, cousin of former Holland international Edgar, made his Cherries debut along with Frank Demouge.

Karl Darlow claimed Josh McQuoid's deflected effort while James comfortably took Florent Cuvelier's strike during a quiet opening 20 minutes.

It was an instantly forgettable first half an hour with the sides cancelling each other out but it burst into life in the final 10 minutes.

First Eunan O'Kane fired wide before Bowerman swept Ben Purkiss' cross wide from eight-yards.

Jamie Paterson curled wide nine minutes before the break before the Saddlers too the lead on 41 minutes.

Andy Taylor's free kick from the half-way line was only half cleared and James Baxendale swung in a wonderful cross from the right for the unmarked Butler to crash a six-yard header past James.

It was a muted response from the hosts until they emerged for the second half and Darlow pushed O'Kane's 47^th minute effort wide.

But it was a minor worry for Walsall as they dictated the early second-half play with Taylor firing wide from Jamie Paterson's short corner.

Will Grigg charged down James' clearance but couldn't capitalise and Cuvelier dipped a volley a yard over on the hour.

Walsall were in charge as the home fans chanted for manager Paul Groves' dismissal as Butler headed over on 69 minutes.

The fading visitors needed a second goal to kill the Cherries off as Josh Carmichael fired over for the hosts before Richard Taundry replaced Baxendale with 14 minutes remaining.

But with eight minutes left the hosts levelled when Daniels stroked under Darlow following Wes Fogden's ball over the top.

It was a sucker punch for the Saddlers but they recovered to snatch the win at the death.

Febian Brandy's deflected shot had been cleared off the line for a corner and when Butler nodded down Paterson's resulting flag kick Bowerman hooked in from six-yards.

Darlow saved well from Fogden in stoppage time as the Cherries pressed but the Saddlers hung on.