County: Fon Williams; Vincent, Raynes, Rose, Griffin; Poole, Bridcutt, Turnbull, Baker; Bignall, Thompson.
Gary Ablett was forced to change his back four after Johnny Mullins failed a late fitness test after picking up a knock at Manor Farm. Michael Rose moved inside to partner Michael Raynes with Adam Griffin coming in for a rare start at left back.

Youth team defenders Sam Barnes and John Disney were named on the bench.

The Hatters were almost a goal down inside 20 seconds. Liam Bridcutt lost possession to Darren Byfield who hit a first time shot from fully 35 yards wide just wide.

County were next to threaten when David Poole found Nicholas Bignall, the striker's shot lacked was off target, though.

Clayton Ince was called into action a minute later when Carl Baker cut inside from the left but his 20-yard shot was too close to the keeper who made the save.

The Hatters produced a flowing move on ten minutes. Poole found Peter Thompson who crossed from the right. The diving Bignall got his head to the ball but couldn't direct it on target.

County had a worrying moment on 18 when Matt Richard's free kick bounced off the wall and, wind assisted, looked to be dropping into the top corner until Owain Fon Williams made the save.

Bridcutt then had two opportunities. A right-foot effort on 22 minutes was saved then he shot over from the edge of the box.

Thompson almost scored on the half hour when intercepted a miss kick form Ince and watch as his volley from the half-way line bounced just wide with the 'keeper scrambled.

Steve Jones burst into life ten minutes before the break when his surging run was ended with a fouled by Griffin which earned the defender a booking. Richards stepped up to curl the ball into the top corner.

The second half started the same as the first with an early Walsall chance. Troy Deeney played a 1-2 with Byfield but his low shot clipped the outside of the post.

Right from the restart Thompson's shot on the turn was blocked by the Walsall defence.

The Saddlers had clearly come out trying to kill the game off and Mark Bradley and then Deeney were of target within a couple of minutes.

County had a strong penalty appeal turned down on 54 minutes when Bignall appeared to be hauled down in the box by Manny Smith; the referee waived away the protests.

And the misfortune was compounded within a minute when Bradley won the ball off Turnbull and played Byfield in who beat Fon Williams with a classy chip.

The Hatters had another penalty appear tuned down just after the hour when Thompson went down under Ince's challenge. The travelling army appealed in unison but again it fell on deaf ears.

County should have reduced the arrears on 67 minutes when Thompson set up Bignall; the Reading man smashed his shot wide from eight yards.

And, when Ince pulled off a wonder save to deny Oli Johnson ten minutes from time, you just felt it wasn't to be County's day.

They had a chance of a consolation in stoppage time when Danny Pilkington crossed from the left but James Vincent's header was too close to Ince who made a comfortable save.

The Hatters have now lost their last five games in the West Midlands without scoring a single goal.