MK Dons picked off out-of-sorts Walsall with a 2-0 win that heaped more pressure on under-fire home boss Mat Sadler, a manager whose side were top of League Two on Boxing Day but have now won just one of their past 10 games.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy struck on the half-hour and Jon Mellish added a second four minutes from time as Paul Warne's promotion hunters sealed a sixth win in eight unbeaten Sky League Two outings.
Farquharson Error Gifts the Opener
The breakthrough came from a slick MK Dons move emanating from a risky pass by Walsall defender Priestley Farquharson. The mistake gifted Mellish the ball, and Alex Gilbey then set up Hepburn-Murphy to calmly curl the opener inside the far post.