Sam Parkin’s injury time penalty saved Clayton Ince’s blushes as 10 man Walsall salvaged a deserved point against Southend.

Parkin levelled in the 91st minute after he was brought down by Lee Sawyer – 11 minutes after Dougie Freedman’s header almost won it for the visitors.

Steve Jones had headed the Saddlers ahea,  before Dwayne Mattis was sent off for two bookable offences on 61 minutes.

Five minutes later goalkeeper Ince dropped a clanger, as he rolled the ball to Lee Barnard who easily equalised.

Darryl Westlake was handed his debut by Chris Hutchings, as the 18-year-old won the battle with Richard Taundry to fill in for the suspended Rhys Weston.

Mark Hughes, Clayton Ince, Peter Till and Troy Deeney all returned to the starting line up after Tuesday’s Carling Cup exit at Accrington.

Southend had only lost once away from Roots Hall since January and started quickly, but the Saddlers took the lead after 11 minutes in a moment away defender Matthew Heath will want to forget.

Westlake dropped a fine free kick into the area for Troy Deeney to flick on. There was little danger when the ball fell to Heath, but the defender dallied allowing Jones to steal in and head past static goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall.

The goal gave the Saddlers the impetus to take control, but Hughes almost pressed the self destruct button 10 minutes before the break, when he missed his header to allow Walker through but Ince mopped up.

A slow start to the second half was energised when Jones burst into the area and was denied by Mildenhall.

But the Saddlers were left stunned when Mattis, who had been cautioned in the first half for fouling Anthony Grant, was sent off just after the hour, when he picked up his second caution for bringing down Adam Barrett.

Five minutes later Ince self destructed, when he rolled the ball to Barnard who had an easy finish

The Saddlers were rocking and Westlake made one excellent challenge to halt Barnard, but the Shrimpers scored after 80 minutes.

Moussa broke down the right, Barnard flicked on his cross and Freedman stole in to head in from five yards.

But, with time running out, Parkin’s late intervention earned a point.