THE SADDLERS slipped to defeat at in-form Leyton Orient this afternoon despite putting in a performance that was worthy of at least a share of the spoils.
After fielding the same team for the opening two games of the season, Richard Money shuffled his pack for the trip to London.
Anthony Gerrard made way for a fully-fit Ian Roper whilst Rhys Weston was given his debut as Dan Fox dropped to the bench and Darren Wrack, who had been filling in at right-back, took up Fox's place on the left-hand side of midfield. This allowed Weston to slot in at right-back in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.
Fox and Gerrard were joined on the bench by Mark Bradley, Bertrand Bossu and Ishmel Demontagnac, who was available for selection after serving a two-match ban.
The home side also made two changes from the side beat that beat QPR in the Carling Cup midweek as captain Stephen Purches and Sean Thornton came in for Paul Terry and Jason Demetriou.
Four minutes in and it was The Saddlers who had the first chance of the game as Tommy Mooney flashed a volley just wide after some good work from Carlos Carneiro.
Minutes later and Richard Money's Men forced their first corner of the game after some good work down the right between Weston and Paul Hall. Scott Dann met Danny Sonner's centre but his header was easily gathered up by Stuart Nelson in The O's goal.
Skipper Dobson was next to warm Nelson's gloves but he failed to connect properly with a half-volley from just inside the 18-yard box.
Orient were awarded a dubious freekick in the 20th minute when Sonner was adjudged to have handled but, fortunately for The Saddlers, Thornton's drive lacked any real power.
Both teams were knocking the ball around well on the expansive Matchroom Stadium surface in what was a lively opening 25 minutes.
Adam Boyd asked Clayton Ince his first question of the afternoon just before the half-hour mark when, after a poor defensive header from Weston, the former Luton man fired a powerful drive goalwards. Ince had the answer though as he gathered well.
Darren Wrack should have done better at the other end when Mooney picked him out inside Orient's 18-yard box but he angled his header just wide of Nelson's far post.
It was real end-to-end stuff as Orient were next to try and break the deadlock. A good interchange Between Boyd and Thornton led to the latter racing through only for Ince to save bravely at his feet.
Then came the half's flashpoint as Orient were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute when Adam Chambers' bursting midfield run was halted by Scott Dann.
The foul looked to have taken place just outside the box but referee Clive Penton pointed to the spot and Dann was shown a yellow card much to the annoyance of the home support who were expecting to see red.
Ince was the hero of the hour though with a tremendous double save. The Trinidad & Tobago International stretched every inch of his 6'4 frame to beat away Boyd's spot-kick and then immediately sprang to action to deny Wayne Corden's follow-up.
That proved to be the last action of what was an energetic and eventful opening half.
Neither side made a change during interval and, like the first-half, it was The Saddlers who were first out of the blocks.
Hall, enjoying the space afforded to him down the right-hand side, delivered a pinpoint cross that just missed the out-stretched boot of Mooney.
Weston was next to turn provider for Mooney with another decent delivery into the O's box but this time the veteran hitman couldn't direct his header.
Carneiro was then booked in the 50th minute for what appeared to be persistent fouling
Orient came forward with real purpose soon after and, after Ince had denied Melligan with a smart save, opened the scoring when Wayne Gray headed home a pin-point cross from Wayne Corden.
Buoyed by the goal, the O's began to apply the pressure and Weston, looking impressive on his debut, did well to block a Sean Thornton drive.
To their credit though, The Saddlers continued to create chances and both Carneiro and Wrack should have done better after finding themselves in space.
Richard Money made his first change of the afternoon in the 62nd minute when Demontagnac replaced Dobson. The pacy youngster slotted in on the left-hand side of midfield with Wrack moving in to the centre to partner Sonner.
Wrack was on the move again five minutes later as he reverted to right-back as Weston made way for Welsh midfielder, Mark Bradley.
With Ishmel and Hall probing down either flank, The Saddlers looked threatening but, in keeping with the game as a whole, it was Orient who created the next real opening.
Melligan flashed the ball across goal for Gray but Ince smothered the striker's attempts before a mixture of Ince and Gray blocked Alton Thelwell's follow up.
Carneiro then wasted Walsall's best chance of the game with 15 minutes remaining.
The Portuguese striker latched on to a superb cushioned header from Roper, up from the back for a free-kick, but volleyed wide from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy.
The Saddlers continued to push forward and both Bradley and Dann were just a whisker away from connecting with Sonner's centre as time ticked away.
Bradley then forced another corner, which came to nothing before Nelson was booked for time wasting after dallying over the resultant goalkick.
Ishmel could have grabbed an equaliser that The Saddlers richly deserved with virtually the last kick of the game.
However, after turning his man inside the box, he fired over from a tight angle ensuring that all three points stayed in London.
PHOTOS: Kevin Grice.
