WALSALL 1 (Deeney 7), UNITED 0
Walsall: Ince, Weston, Palmer, Gerrard, Boertein, Taundry, Nicholls (Williams 77), Mattis, Zaaboub, Deeney, Ibhere (Sansara 90). Subs: Gilmartin, Smith, Bradley.
United: Ankergren, Hughes, Marques, Naylor, Dickinson, Robinson, Douglas (Howson 70), Delph, Johnson (Snodgrass 55), Beckford (Becchio 55), Trundle. Subs: Lucas, Michalik.
Referee: K Wright.
Booked: Palmer, Zaaboub, Deeney (Walsall)
Att: 8920 (3685 Leeds)
You can hear live commentary on Yorkshire Radio (DAB only), Minster 104.7FM, and LUTV...
After three successive victories, manager Simon Grayson named the starting line-up as Leeds looked to make it four in a row at Walsall.
The post-Christmas run has clearly re-fuelled optimism on and off the pitch, and almost 4,000 United fans filled two sides of Walsall's Banks's Stadium - almost outnumbering the home support.
But it took less than seven minutes for those supporters to be handed a blow as Walsall stole an early lead.
Sofiene Zaaboub delivered a cross from the Walsall left and Troy Deeney got up well to head beyon Casper Ankergren to give the home side the advantage.
Zaaboub also tried his luck with a free-kick as Walsall showed pegged Leeds back during the early exchanges.
United were struggling to find any fluency and, after one decent spell of play, Walsall replied quickly with Zaaboub lifting a shot over the top, following a quick break.
United's first half-chance came on 27 minutes when Andy Robinson won a corner after his low angled shot was turned to safety.
Just 90 seconds later and with the first proper good build-up of the half, Bradley Johnson smashed the ball past Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince only to be denied for offside.
Jermaine Beckford also fired straight at Ince after the Walsall defence backed off and gave him the space to run and the time to shoot.
Robinson was next to try his luck when he curled a free-kick wide of the mark in the 36th minute, following a foul on Lee Trundle on the edge of the box.
But it was Walsall who ended the half in the ascendancy with both Carl Dickinson and Richard Naylor making timely clearances to avert the danger.
Ten minutes into the second half, Grayson made a double change, introducing Luciano Becchio in place of Beckford and Robert Snodgrass in place of Johnson.
The change almost paid immediate dividends with Becchio playing a role in the build-up that saw Jonathan Douglas force Ince into making a good, low save on 59 minutes.
Leeds were showing far more urgency and the home side were on the back foot as Grayson's men applied the pressure on Walsall.
On 64 minutes, Walsall's Chris Palmer became the first player to be booked as the challenges started to fly in.
The game had livened up considerably, and Jabo Ibehre went close when Walsall threatened again midway through the half.
With 20 minutes remaining, Grayson made his final change, Jonny Howson replacing Douglas in the middle of the park.
Walsall weren't as disciplined in the second period and Snodgrass, who had headed a Robinson cross wide, tried his luck with a free-kick from distance after another United attack was halted by a foul.
Becchio went close on 77 minutes with a header, following another Robinson cross as United continued to pressurise the dogged Saddlers.
And Leeds had a penalty shout waved away in the 80th minute when Snodgrass went down under pressure.
United were throwing men forward in the hope of snatching a leveller, but it was Walsall who almost snatched a second when Deeney bundled the ball wide of the mark with four minutes remaining.
At the other end, Trundle had a shot blocked and Snodgrass sent a well-struck effort just wide of the mark.
Four minutes of stoppage time gave United hope, Ankergren even joining the attack for a corner kick. Becchio headed a Robinson free-kick over the top in the dying moments, but there was no equaliser as United slipped to a narrow defeat.
