Walsalls revival gathered momentum when they inflicted a rare defeat on runaway League One leaders Luton, thanks to another impressive display. The victory, courtesy of goals from player-manager Paul Merson and Matty Fryatt, means Walsall have taken seven points from their last three games and the disillusionment which accompanied the teams disappointing start to their campaign has suddenly been replaced by optimism at Bescot. Merson, who has been in inspirational form of late, was again the catalyst as he scored his first goal of the season in the seventh minute. Fryatt, who came off the bench, doubled the hosts advantage 19 minutes from time with a deflected shot. Merson, whose side move up to 16th, said: It was a very good game, I thought we deserved to win. Everybody was just brilliant, there wasnt one player who didnt play to his potential. Im chuffed to score but I was more pleased with the performance of the team. Some of the football was brilliant. It was excellent one or two-touch stuff and theres not a team in the league who can match that. At the start of the season, we used to have a bad five- or ten-minute spell when we always seemed to concede. Thankfully, we seem to have got out of that habit and after beating Colchester here recently, we have defeated two of the top teams in the league. Merson made two changes to the side which drew at Wrexham as Mark Kinsella was injured, while Fryatt was dropped after failing to score in six games. Michael Standing came into the midfield, with Gary Birch partnering Jorge Leito in attack. The hosts started brightly and took the lead following a glorious move. Merson played an intelligent ball to Birch on the left and his cross to the back post was squared by Darren Wrack into the player-managers path, allowing him to slot a low right-footed shot past Dino Seremet. Luton responded well, however, and Steve Howard headed against a post from a corner before Rowan Vine tested Joe Murphy with a low drive. The visitors continued to threaten, particularly at set pieces, but Walsall should have made it 2-0 nine minutes before the break when Birch headed Leitos cross just over the crossbar. After the re-start a short back-header by Curtis Davies nearly let in Leito but Seremet was off his line smartly to clear. At the other end, Howard headed just over from Ahmet Brkovics cross and Murphy made a good save from Paul Underwood. The Saddlers survived something of an aerial bombardment from the visitors before substitute Fryatt increased Walsalls advantage in the 71st minute to seal victory. Merson was again involved in the action as he found Wrack who set Fryatt free and the England Under-19 striker twisted and turned the home defence before scoring with a smartly-struck shot, the ball taking a deflection on its way into the net. Fryatt might have added a third with a header which flew just wide but Mersons men will head into Saturdays home game with Bristol City in high spirits. Walsall (4-3-1-2): Murphy, Aranalde, Osborn, Emblen, Standing, Birch, Leito (Fryatt, 65), Merson, Wrack, Wright, Bennett. Subs: Paston, Roper, Taylor, Broad. Luton Town (4-1-3-2): Seremet, Foley, Davies, Coyne, Davis, Brkovic (OLeary, 82), Nicholls, Robinson, Underwood, Vine (Showunmi, 75), Howard. Subs: Beckwith, Blinkhorn, Perrett. Referee: C Foy (St Helens). | 
