Walsall picked the perfect moments to put down struggling Carlisle during a 3-1 victory in a fast-paced Sky Bet League Two encounter.

The Saddlers struck within two minutes, Jamille Matt mugging Harrison Neal in front of his own penalty area and rolling to his left for Nathan Lowe to fire home low across goal via a Harry Lewis’ post.

It set the tone for a brisk first half, albeit without clear chances following Carlisle wing-back Cameron Harper’s run in from right and lash wide of the near post.

The Saddlers quickly found the killer touch in the second half, midfielder Jamie Jellis bursting inside and on to Matt’s knock-down, firing home on the run.

The game was up in the 56th minute, Matt bludgeoning home after a bout of penalty area pinball following Taylor Allen’s free-kick.

The visitors got one back nine minutes from time, with Jon Mellish side-footing in after a low corner swirled through a crowd.

Walsall substitute Danny Johnson spurned two more great chances to add gloss to the scoreline.