Walsall 1 MK Dons 0 - Report and pictures

The striker, signed at 10.59pm on deadline day, scored with virtually his first touch of the ball after coming on as a second half substitute.

In match Jon Whitney's side had to win to avoid being dragged further into a relegation scrap, the Saddlers should have put the visitors to bed in a first half they dominated.

But the Dons grew in stature after the interval with the game an open and even affair until Ngoy cut off the left flank before drilling a strike into the bottom corner.

The result means Walsall move up to 16th in League One – four points clear of the drop zone.

Analysis

Despite a frantic deadline day that saw three players arrive at the Banks's Stadium, boss Whitney opted to make just one change from the team that slipped to a heavy loss at Blackburn.

Albion loanee Jack Fitzwater was handed a full debut at centre-half with Kory Roberts the man to make way.

Fellow new recruit Julien Ngoy started his Saddlers career amongst the substitutes. But there was no place in the match day squad for Krystian Bielik who missed out through injury.

It meant the Saddlers line-up in a 4-4-2 formation with Erhun Oztumer and Amadou Bakayoko up front.

MK Dons, under the guidance of boss Dan Micciche for the first time in League One, began in a 4-2-3-1 system with Kieran Agard the lone striker.

In an opening half-hour dominated by the hosts, the Saddlers showed their intent to press high up the pitch right from the first whistle.

And with MK Dons often guilty of giving the ball away cheaply, Whitney's side twice came close to opening the scoring.

First, Joe Edwards saw a low strike from 20-yards bobble just in front of Lee Nicholls. But the keeper did just enough to get down and parry the ball away.

Then from a similar distance, Oztumer worked himself space before arrowing a drive inches past the post.

Walsall thought they had a penalty in the 16th minute when Adam Chambers was bundled over in the box by Alex Gilbey.

But despite some strong protests, referee Christopher Sarginson waved play on.

Micciche's side seemed intent to play out from the back at every opportunity. But they lacked the required quality to do so with their game plan playing into the Saddlers hands time and time again.

Yet while Whitney's side enjoyed long spells of pressure – and often won the ball high – they weren't able to make their pressure pay as the clock ticked towards the 40 minute mark.

They came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock just before half-time with Oztumer looping a header over the bar after he connected with a whipped Edwards' cross.

But that miss meant the two teams came off at the interval all-square with the Saddlers guilty of not being ruthless enough to put a bed a poor Dons side.

MK Dons created their first real chance of the game in the 53rd minute with Marcus Tavernier hitting a low drive from 20-yards narrowly passed the post.

Suddenly the visitors were looking a lot more lively. And they threatened again when substitute Robbie Muirhead – who had replaced the injured Osman Sow – flashed a ferocious strike inches wide from just outside the box.

All of a sudden, the game had become open with both teams then creating glorious chances to take the lead.

First, Edwards bundled his way into the box with a deflection then seeing the ball fall kindly for Bakayoko who was centrally placed just yards from goal.

But leaning back the striker blazed his effort over the bar when he should have scored.

The Dons responded instantly with Tavernier sending in a cross that was fumbled by Liam Roberts.

That allowed Muirhead to steer the ball towards goal but fortunately for the Saddlers Jon Guthrie had got back on the line to clear.

With the game now swinging back and forth, Whitney made a double substitution with Ngoy and Shaibu replacing Bakayoko and Oztumer.

And the change proved a masterstroke with Ngoy opening the scoring with his first touches of the ball.

After initially collecting the ball on the left side, the Stoke loanee cut into the box before arrowing a low strike into the corner and beyond the reach of Nicholls.

Again the visitors responded instantly with the ball falling kindly in the box for Muirhead. But the Scotsman saw his strike brilliantly beaten away by Roberts.

And while the Dons went on to show plenty of endeavour as they went in search of an equaliser, they were unable to break through a resolute Saddlers defence – with Fitzwater and Roberts in particular impressing as Whitney's side held on for a crucial three points.

Key moments

2 Joe Edwards' strike from 25-yards bobbles just in front of Lee Nicholls but the keeper does enough to parry the ball away.

4 Erhun Oztumer twists and turns before lashing a left-footed effort wide from 25 yards.

16 Adam Chambers goes down under a challenge from Elliott Ward - but the referee waves away the Saddlers' appeals for a penalty.

17 Ed Upson drills a strike wide from 25-yards.

18 Ward makes a fantastic sliding tackle to deny Oztumer from getting his shot away in the box. Ama Bakayoko volleys wide.

33 Luke Leahy sends in a dangerous cross that evades everyone.

43 Edwards sends in a whipped cross that is met by Oztumer. But the forward's looping header sails over.

48 George Dobson fires well over from 25-yards.

53 Marcus Tavernier hits a low drive from 20-yards narrowly passed the post.

58 Robbie Muirhead sends a ferocious strike wide from 20-yards.

60 Kieran Agard curls a right-footed shot just wide from just outside the box.

62 Just yards from goal, Bakayoko blazes a strike over the bar when he has to score.

63 Roberts fails to deal with a cross and Muirhead sees his hooked effort cleared off the line by Jon Guthrie.

70 Goal Walsall. Julien Ngoy cuts in off the left flank before arrowing a drive beyond the reach of Nicholls and into the corner.

71 The ball falls for Ed Upson in the box but Liam Roberts brilliantly beats it away.

83 Ike Ugbo's powerful strike flashes wide.

87 Justin Shaibu squares to Ngoy, who turns and shoots inches wide.

Teams

Walsall: L. Roberts, Kinsella, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Chambers, Edwards, Dobson, Oztumer (Ngoy 66), Morris, Bakayoko (Shaibu 66).

Subs not used: Gillespie, K. Roberts, Cuvelier, Flanagan, Kouyhar.

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams, Wooton, Ward, Lweington, Gilbey, Upson, Sow (Muirhead 51), McGrandles (Ugbo 73), Tavernier (Tymon 81), Agard.

Subs not used: Sietsma, Cisse, Ebanks-Landell, Brittain.