Walsall's Jorge Leitao got the better of veteran keeper Dave Beasant as he scored the only goal of the game after six minutes

But Brighton will leave the Bescot Stadium feeling they deserved at least a point.

They made Walsall fight to hold on for all three points and record their first league win this year.

Walsall got into their stride right from the start and Beasant was tested as early as the second minute when he pulled off a fantastic save from Danny Sonner.

But it was not long before the 43-year-old was picking the ball out the back of the net after Leitao headed the Saddlers ahead from a Darren Bazeley cross.

Brighton were slow to get into the game but started the second half brightly and Bobby Zamora was again proving to be the thorn in the Saddlers side.

Three minutes after the break he saw his shot go agonisingly close when it hit the crossbar.

Walsall almost made it 2-0 through David Zdrilic but Beasant's finger-tip save proved he was more than capable of dealing with the shot.

With 15 minutes of the game remaining Brighton stepped up the tempo and had a hatful of chances to level the score but they were unable to find a way through the Walsall defence.

Walsall: Walker, Hay, Barras, Roper, Bazeley, Corica, Sonner, O'Connor, Aranalde, Leitao, Zdrilic. Subs: Ward, Carbon, Simpson, Javary, Emblen.

Brighton: Beasant, Watson, Pethick, Cullip, Mayo, Jones, Carpenter, Oatway, Brooker, Barrett, Zamora. Subs: Blackwell, Hart, Packham, Kitson, Rodger.

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).