A superb Walsall display ended in County’s proud away record being smashed at ‘Fortress Bescot’. The Saddlers who are yet to lose at home this season in the league, added to their goal difference in a more than convincing performance.

The Saddlers, unchanged from the encouraging midweek draw with West Ham, were ahead after just four minutes when Jorge Leitao’s clever flick-back set through Pedro Matias for the Spaniard to skip past one player before driving low into the bottom right corner.

The Saddlers were later unfortunate when Hall came close, and Angell was unlucky when Matias’ beautiful through ball found Aranalde who’s pin-point cross found Angell to who hit the bar. But the pressure paid off and on 38 minutes Angell capitalised on the loose ball and poached Walsall’s second goal against a bewildered Magpies side.

However County’s first real effort resulted in an early second half goal as a deep corner found Mark Stallard to close the gap. But the Saddlers pressure restored the two goal advantage when Tom Bennett thumped home following some terrible Notts defending.

Jorge Leitao was having a good game, he already had two assists to his name when he took on a Brett Angell through ball down the left wing. The Portugese striker went in-field took on no fewer than three defenders before calmly slotting home.

Leitao was later replaced by Darren Byfield and it took the ex-Villa man no time to finish his goal drought. On 72 minutes he converted a great header with his first touch of the match following another superb cross from Zigor Aranalde.

Byfield should have scored again when Angell’s exquisite chip hit the bar, but he scuppered the rebound. Notts came close twice before full time but the home side looked dangerous until the final whistle.

Walsall now average two goals per game in the league, and lead by three points.