A poor second half display saw Yeovil Town slip closer to the League One relegation zone.

New manager Terry Skiverton remains without a win after three games in charge thanks to goals from Troy Deeney and Alex Nicholls for Walsall.

The home side threatened first when Nicholls got in behind the recalled Nathan Jones and crossed for Sofiene Zaaboub to volley well wide.

Home striker Michael Ricketts then chipped just over from the edge of the box as the hosts started the brighter.

Yeovil's first effort of any note came on 31 minutes when Luke Rodgers' overhead was scooped off-target after keeper Clayton Ince had failed to gather.

The Glovers' next effort was a weak 25-yarder from the right foot of Andy Welsh. Jon Worthington got much more force on the following effort but his 20-yard strike flew straight at Ince.

Yeovil threatened again when a corner went uncleared and a dink from Rodgers saw Aaron Brown head wide.

Walsall were the livelier side at the start of the second period with Dwayne Mattis having a shot blocked by Terrell Forbes before Zaaboub skied a volley against the stadium's scoreboard.

And they were ahead on 52 minutes when a long ball from Chris Palmer was headed on by Anthony Gerrard and Deeney was able to run on and slot past Josh Wagenaar.

Yeovil's reply was a skimming drive from Worthington that Ince held onto close to his line.

The Glovers replaced Craig Alcock with Gary Roberts just after the hour mark while Walsall brought on Jabo Ibehre for the injured Anthony Gerrard in a move that saw striker Ricketts go to centre half.

Ricketts' first touch as a defender was a mistake as he flicked a clearance on to Gavin Tomlin but the striker's shot was blocked by Ince.

Substitute Ibehre then outpaced Brown and was only denied a clinching second goal by a pointblank save from Wagenaar.

But the Saddlers wrapped it up on 76 minutes when a long cross from the left by Zaaboub was headed in by the unchallenged Nicholls.

Young centre-half Manny Smith's acrobatic effort bounced back off the underside of the bar on 83 minutes.

Walsall (4-4-2): Ince; Palmer, Smith, Gerrard (Ibehre 62), Boertien; Nicholls, Hughes (Taundry 84), Mattis, Zaaboub (Sansara 90); Ricketts, Deeney. Subs not used: Gilmartin, Bradley.

Yeovil Town (4-4-2): Wagenaar; Alcock (Roberts 62), Forbes, Brown, Jones; Warne, Worthington, Peltier, Welsh (Smith 79); Tomlin, Rodgers (Downes 84). Subs not used: McCollin, Murtagh.