Walsall have moved to within one point of the League One playoff places with a comfortable 2-0 victory over 10-man Peterborough United.

The visitors came within inches of taking the lead after just seven minutes when Craig Alcock unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the box, but his strike came back off the crossbar.

The hosts' first real chance of match came in the 23rd minute when Paul Downing fired a shot straight at Robert Olejnik after Peterborough had failed to clear a free kick.

Walsall did get the opening goal just three minutes later, however, as Milan Lalkovic beat a number of defenders before drilling a low shot under the keeper to complete a fine solo effort.

The home side were almost gifted a second goal 10 minutes after the restart as Grant McCann sold Olejnik short with a back-pass, but the Peterborough keeper spared his teammate's blushes with a fine save to deny Craig Westcarr.

Olejnik could do nothing about Andy Butler's towering header just after the hour mark, but luckily for him Britt Assombalonga was well placed to nod the effort off the line.

Assombalonga had a chance to make a similarly significant impact at the other end shortly afterwards, but he scuffed a shot straight at the keeper having latched onto another short back-pass.

Walsall punished Posh for that miss, going up the other end and doubling their lead within a minute. Lalkovic was involved again, finding Romaine Sawyers, who twisted and turned before firing his shot past Olejnik.

Yet another under-hit back-pass almost gifted Sawyers a second goal shortly afterwards, but he could not get enough elevation on his chipped finish, allowing Olejnik to pluck the ball out of the air.

Things went from bad to worse for Peterborough in the final 15 minutes as they were reduced to 10 men courtesy of a second yellow card for Shaun Brisley.

The hosts had a chance to cap off their victory in the 90th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a Gabriel Zakuani foul, but Olejnik guessed right to save Ashley Hemmings's spot kick.