English Second Division match, scoring both goals as Walsall sent Bristol City crashing to their fourth straight away defeat, 2-0.

In front of scouts from Premier League teams Blackburn Rovers and Coventry as well as Huddersfield and Port Vale of the First Division, Lightbourne struck two smart goals to take his tally for the season to 17. Dave Sexton, a member of the England set-up, was also in attendance.

Lightbourne, the subject of a transfer enquiry from Coventry which Walsall turned down some weeks ago, is now just one goal behind Goater whose disappointing performance was completed when he was substituted in the 82nd minute. The estimated 800 travelling City fans showed their disapproval by booing when Kevin Nugent came on.

The win enabled Walsall to climb ahead of City and into sixth place in the standings -- their highest place this season -- while City dropped to eighth.

Lightbourne, who also scored against City earlier this season before Goater led the City fightback with two goals in a 4-1 win, broke the deadlock in the 35th minute.

Chasing a through ball, Lightbourne used his speed to beat advancing City goalkeeper Stuart Naylor to the ball. He rounded Naylor and from a seemingly impossible angle squeezed the ball into goal.

In front of a crowd of 4,322, Walsall's biggest in the league this season, the man the Walsall fans call "Killer'' settled the issue with a second goal in the second half, rising above everyone in a crowded City six-yard box to score with a firm header in the 73rd minute.

City's front pair of Goater and Paul Agostino were kept quiet by a solid Walsall defence and had few scoring chances.

Walsall have the chance on Saturday against neighbours Shrewsbury to further boost their promotion hopes while City have the weekend off because their opponents, Wrexham, are involved in the FA Cup.

Walsall manager Chris Nicholl acknowledges the team's promotion hopes will rest on Lightbourne's goals.

"Killer's value to us is terrific. It would be nasty to lose him,'' said the manager last night.

"He is a class player, but he deserves his chance at playing at a higher level. His ribs are a bit sore at the moment because he took some knocks but he did very well for us.

"I want him to stay and help keep our run going. He's very cool under pressure.'' Walsall, bottom of the table at the beginning of September, are aiming for a top-six finish which would give them a shot at promotion via the play-offs which involve the third to sixth placed teams. The top two automatically go up to the First Division.

KYLE LIGHTBOURNE -- two-goal hero in Walsall's win last night.