Report and pictures of Walsall 1 Yeovil 2

Unfortunately for boss Dean Smith and the Saddlers, it was the visitors who broke their duck.

The hosts had chances – notably in the first half – but failed to take them and though Tom Bradshaw cancelled out James Hayter's second-half opener Kevin Dawson restored the Glovers' advantage immediately as they took their first win of the season.

Smith and his players must wait for theirs after a night which provided more questions than answers though there was controversy over the winner - with the Saddlers boss claiming AJ Leitch-Smith had punched the ball over the line.

As expected the only change in the Walsall line-up came in defence where Dean Holden replaced the injured James Chambers.

That meant another start for 18-year-old Liam Kinsella. The teenager was superb against Bradford on Saturday but in the opening five minutes sold a back-pass short which almost allowed Hayter in, before Billy Clifford hacked the ball clear.

Moments later the Saddlers were almost ahead but Paul Downing's header, from Mal Benning's curling cross, was just wide. And that was the cue for another 45 minutes of frustration in front of goal.

In truth it was the visitors who should have taken the lead only for Hayter to blast wide after getting in thanks to Joe Edwards' sublime ball.

Yeovil made most of the early running, but the Saddlers seemed to fashioning the better chances on the break.

Ashley Grimes sliced horribly wide after starting a lovely move which ended with him receiving a cross from Benning in stride 10 yards from goal.

Then Bradshaw broke away from the Glovers backline after racing on to a long ball but – like his team-mate – could only shoot wide.

At the other end, Nathan Smith caused consternation with a low cross which was missed by a host of Yeovil players when only a finishing touch was required.

Clifford and Bradshaw both shot over before the Saddlers twice went close just after the half-hour mark.

Grimes brought the first save of the game when he brought down a Benning cross and lashed a half-volley at goal, while Bradshaw volleyed over from a corner.

Heading into the final five minutes of the first period, half the crowd thought Andy Taylor's free-kick had flown into the top corner and not, as in fact, just wide.

Romaine Sawyers then squandered a great chance when he was played in by a smart Grimes flick but his weak finish, which dribbled yards wide, drew groans from fans.

Edwards and Sawyers were then both off-target. As the Saddlers pressed, Yeovil's goal 11 minutes into the half felt like a sucker punch – though it came from a fine move. One-touch passing ended with Dawson crossing and Hayter heading into the top corner.

The hosts huffed and puffed and levelled with a goal which owed more to persistence than fancy football.

A corner was returned into the box by skipper Adam Chambers; Paul Downing turned the ball to Bradshaw and he scrambled it home from four yards.

But they were level for less than a minute, as Smith crossed. Dawson claimed the goal; AJ Leitch-Smith may have chested it over the line and boss Smith claimed handball. Whatever the truth, it was the winner.

The Saddlers saw appeals for a penalty waved away when Bakayoko appeared to be pushed over. It was that kind of night.