The Saddlers fell to defeat on the road against Scunthorpe United as a first half header from Jai Rowe was enough to give the 10-man home side all three points.
It was Matt Taylor’s side who applied all of the early pressure and could have found themselves a couple of goals ahead with the chances they had.
With just four minutes on the clock, the returning Joss Labadie had an effort from 30-yards out well saved by Rory Watson and then seconds later, Reece Devine tried his luck but again Watson denied the wing-back.
After 16 minutes, the Saddlers had a golden opportunity to open the scoring at the Sands Venue Stadium as Tyrese Shade was played in and he found himself in a one-v-one situation but his effort was saved by the feet of Watson and as Liam Kinsella advanced onto the rebound, Watson again pounced on the ball to deny Walsall.
Shortly after that chance for Shade, his strike partner George Miller had a chance himself as the ball was played in behind Emmanuel Onariase but with the angle becoming tighter as the ball rolled away from him, Miller was unable to square the ball and the chance went begging.
As the clock ticked down towards half time, the hosts scored with their first effort on target of the half. Ross Millen stepped up to take a free-kick from 25-yards out and his strike hit the post and bounced out into the six-yard box and Rowe was on had to head home from close range.
Having taken the lead, Scunthorpe went in search of a quick second goal and nearly got it as Onariase got up well from a corner but Carl Rushworth made a superb save to keep it at just one.
Into the second half and chances were few and far between for both sides in front of goal.
Eight minutes of the second half had been played and Tom Pugh flew into a challenge with Hayden White and the United man was subsequently shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders by the referee.
As the Saddlers went in search of an equaliser, they nearly found it when Miller met a corner at the near post but his header cannoned back off the crossbar and was eventually cleared.
But with the home side content on sitting back and soaking up the pressure that was mounting, Taylor’s side were unable to find an equaliser and United walked away victorious.