Neil Emblen bundled home a 72nd minute winner to hand the Saddlers only their second away win of the season in Milton Keynes today.
Without skipper Paul Merson due to illness, Jorge Leitao was recalled up front against a Wimbledon side minus the talents of young skipper Nigel Reo-Coker. Darren Wrack fired inches wide and Jamie Vincent then forced keeper Steve Banks into a save before being forced off by injury, as Walsall started strongly at the National Hockey Stadium. Gary Birch thought he had given Walsall the lead when he headed in a corner from close range but the goal was ruled out after Ian Roper was penalised for pushing. Jimmy Walker was then forced to palm away a Wayne Gray header as the teams went in level at half time.
Steve Corica became the second Saddler to be forced off by injury, when he was replaced by match-winner Emblen early in the second half and the Saddlers switched to 4-3-3. Soon after Dons’ striker Patrick Agyemang fired miserably wide from six yards when clean though and then Emblen put Walsall ahead; Vinny Samways’ long ball found Leitao on the byeline and his cross was knocked back by Gary Birch and bundled in by the substitute.
Leitao then put the ball in the net himself but this time it was ruled out for handball. Wimbledon pushed for an equaliser and Rob Gier somehow headed over from close range whilst Darren Bazeley hacked a corner from Adam Nowland off the line.