A DIFFICULT week for the club has ended with a home defeat at the hands of Swansea City.
After a minute of applause in memory of youth team player, Anton Reid who collapsed and died on the training ground at the start of the week, The Saddlers made a bright start with Ishmel Demontagnac, making his first start of the season, at the heart of it all.
Firstly, he ran at the visitors' defence in the opening minute only to see his weak effort gathered by Dorus De Vries in The Swans' goal.
Then the talented youngster threaded a ball through to Martin Butler whose low shot was held by the 'keeper.
It wasn't long before Butler, back in action after overcoming a virus, opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Paul Hall's low shot-cum-cross fell nicely into his path and he made no mistake from close range.
It was all Walsall in the opening exchanges and on eight minutes, Demontagnac's curling effort took a slight deflection on the way to producing an outstanding save from De Vries.
Swansea were back on level terms with their first effort on goal as Andy Robinson his a speculative effort through a crowd of players that deceived Clayton Ince.
Ian Roper was booked for a foul on Darren Pratley as he plotted a route towards goal. It presented the visitors with a free-kick in a dangerous position which Robinson hit tamely at Ince
The Welshmen got their noses in front on 25 minutes when Jason Scotland got the better of Rhys Weston to fire in off the post despite The Saddlers' best efforts to clear off the line.
In the next attack, Ince had to be alert to deny Darryl Duffy just outside the area, before Walsall went close when Hall's looping header back across goal beat the 'keeper but struck the crossbar. Butler looked to capitalise upon the loose ball, but he was penalised for a foul.
With just under ten minutes to go until the break, Demontagnac's corner was headed goalwards by Scott Dann but Swansea had men back to scramble off the line.
In the next attack, Butler made progress towards goal as he put an inviting ball into the danger zone, but it went agonisingly beyond Demontagnac's out-stretched leg in the middle.
The half ended with Hall twisting and turning just inside the area only to blaze well over, then at the other end, Ince blocked from Duffy who was played in by Robinson's intelligent pass.
The second period started with Demontagnac's corner causing problems for the visitors as Roper fired over.
Skipper Michael Dobson was replaced by Edrissa Sonko for his Football League debut.
Hall managed to create a chance out of nothing but his effort flashed just wide before Sonko embarked upon a positive run just past the hour that saw him hit a shot that De Vries was able to gather.
On 64 minutes a poor ball by Wrack set Duffy through on goal and as he prepared to pull the trigger, Roper brought him crashing down. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and duly red-carded Roper to compound the misery.
Robinson stepped up to confidently fire home to make it 3-1 and give The Saddlers a real mountain to climb.
With 20 minutes to go, Demontagnac did well to find Butler who in turn set up Hall for a shot that was cleared in front of goal by Dennis Lawrence.
There was another change as Daniel Fox replaced Demontagnac.
Sonko saw yellow on 75 minutes whilst at the other end there were loud appeals for a penalty as Ince brought fellow countryman, Jason Scotland crashing down, but the referee was unimpressed.
With Carlos Carneiro on in place of Hall, the game ended with Butler getting the better of Lawrence but as he tried ti place the ball home, De Vries was able to block.
From the resulting corner, Sonko saw his volley cleared off the line as The Saddlers finished the game pointless.
PHOTOS: David Linney Photography
