Craig Madden's first selection sprung a number of changes. Andy Welsh made his first-team full debut, Keith Briggs returned with David Smith. Karim Fradin, Petri Helin and Shefki Kuqi all missed out due to injury.

County were looking an improvment uder the stewardship of Craig Madden folloing the departures of Messrs Kilner and Bulpin, against a former Walsall side featuring Barras, Bennett and Angell, one of whom made an early impact. County were still using the long ball in the opening stages, with Walsall, via Tom Bennett, playing the better football through their midfield.

As mentioned, one of County's former players made a big impact in the 18th minute. Daren Wrack was freed after some midfield passing and played in across the six-yard area where Brett Angell met it with his head, and the scrambling Tim Flowers failed to stop it from crossing the line, as he should have done. Former County favourite Angell had scored his first of the season.

Things got no better for County as the half progressed, Aaron Wilbraham had the best effort of the half saved by Walker in the visiting goal. Davud Smith provided County's one moent of quality in the first half, but Scott Taylor flicked his in-swinging free-kick away from the onrushing County attackers.

There was still too much long ball from the County defence; Sandford and Flynn both lack pace and were hoofing the ball clear as soon as they could, as was Jason Van Blerk, whilst Keith Briggs hit a couple of bad clearances which could easily have led to Walsall doubling their lead. Despite the change of management it was still the same old story for County at half-time.

Madden changed things round at half-time, bringing on Richard Sneekes for Fredrik Bryngelsson to add more passing craft in midfield. This move could have paid off as Sneekes got in behind the defence with a rare burst of pace, but no striker could get on to the end of his final ball.

Aaron Wilbraham's flick-on from a free-kick fell to Scott Taylor on the hour mark, he caught his shot well but it went straight at the goalkeeper. The heavens then opened as the players were swamped by a heavy rainstorm, which did not add to the quality of a now scrappy game. Madden brought on Neill Hardy to attempt to earn a goal at the expense of Taylor, but this change could not enliven County.

Walsall killed the game off on 77 minutes. Again Bennett was involved, setting Pedro Matias free and Flowers attempted to reach his cross, but it slipped from his grasp to Wrack, who seemed to have ages to lay it to Tom Thogersen to wrap up the game.

Jon Daly was then introduced for the last ten minutes, his first appearance of the season as County switched to three up front, but no further chances were created and Walsall clinched a deserved win. This victory leaves them seven points clear of County in 21st place, and it will now be a highly successful season for County if they reach those heights.

County: (4-4-2) Flowers 6; Briggs 6 (Daly 6), Sandford 6, Flynn 6, Van Blerk 5; Gibb 5, Smith 6, Bryngelsson 5 (Sneekes 7), Welsh 7; Wilbraham 6, Taylor 6 (Hardy 6). Not used: Turner, Woodthorpe.
Booked: Flynn.

Walsall: (4-4-2) Walker; Brightwell, Barras, Carbon, Aranalde; Wrack, Thogersen, Bennett, Matias; Byfield, Angell (Simpson). Not used: Harper, Roper, Gadsby, Herivelto.
Goals: Angell 18, Thogersen 73.
Booked: None.

ATTENDANCE: 4,553