Walsall 0-2 Carlisle United

Omari Patrick slots home his fourth goal of the season for Carlisle

Carlisle went top of League Two as victory at Walsall dealt the hosts a third straight defeat.

The Cumbrians capitalised on call-offs for Newport and Forest Green with goals from Omari Patrick and Josh Kayode to move them a point clear at the summit.

United's early superiority was rewarded 26 minutes in as a fine move ended with Taylor Charters teeing up Patrick to take a touch in the box and lash into the far top corner.

The Cumbrians almost had a second as Kayode latched on to a long ball but Saddlers keeper Liam Roberts tipped away the striker's attempted lob.

Walsall winger Wes McDonald's solo run and shot forced Carlisle keeper Paul Farman into his only save of note after the break.

But, Carlisle continued to look the better side and Walsall needed a Dan Scarr goal-line clearance to deny Charters after Roberts spilled a high free-kick into his path.

United sealed the points after 78 minutes as Joe Riley's cross found Kayode, who scuffed past Roberts from 12 yards.

Saddlers boss Darrell Clarke, who described his side's performance as a "shocker", said there was further bad news because midfielder Rory Holden could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in training.

Clarke told BBC WM: "He will need surgery. Depending on how good it is, it could be 10-12 weeks before he comes back into training. And it could be longer than that."

"We have to get in our heads that if he comes back before the end of the season it will be a bonus."

Match report supplied by PA Media.