Walsall slumped to their third successive defeat as Colchester’s late punch KO’d the sloppy Saddlers.

Andy Bond’s 83rd minute header settled an instantly forgettable game which neither side really deserved to win.

Darren Byfield had hit the post immediately before Colchester took the lead, but the Saddlers rarely threatened in a dire match.

Byfield also had a chance to level when he rounded goalkeeper Mark Cousins two minutes from time but blazed over.

Jamie Paterson was handed a full debut with Richard Taundry failing to shake off his knee injury while 17-year-old Aaron Forde made the bench.

Clayton McDonald replaced Oliver Lancashire at the back in the only other change from Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit to Chesterfield.

Matt Richards’ drilled free-kick aside, the Saddlers started slowly until Jonathan Macken’s low effort was saved by Cousins after neat work from Julian Gray on 13 minutes.

But even still, there was nothing to spark a low-key game into life. Scrappy and predicable, neither side gripped the contest by the scruff of the neck and took charge.

The Banks’s Stadium desperately needed a moment of inspiration as the minutes slowly ticked by but both sets of fans were left wanting.

Ian Henderson epitomised the quality of the first half when he ballooned a free-kick into the stand when well placed six minutes before the break.

Bond just missed Brian Wilson’s cross in a rare moment of consternation for the Saddlers on 44 minutes before, mercifully, the half ended.

But those hoping for a drastic turnaround were disappointed as the frustrations continued.

Kemal Izzet flashed one over just after the hour as, like its predecessor, the second-half failed to shine.

Manny Smith sold Jonny Brain woefully short but the goalkeeper recovered to beat Kayode Odejayi to the ball while the Saddlers failed to threaten.

Byfield replaced the hugely disappointing Gray with 17 minutes to go and almost broke the deadlock immediately, but his far post shot was claimed by Cousins.

Odejayi proved difficult to handle and he dragged a decent chance wide before the lively Byfield smacked the post nine minutes from time.

But almost instantly the visitors took the lead when Wilson broke down the right and delivered a teasing centre for Bond to head in, despite McDonald’s best efforts on the line.

John White almost added a second after Wordsworth’s cross, but Byfield squandered a golden chance to level in the 88th minute.

The captain seized on Izzet’s under hit backpass and advanced, rounded Cousins but pushed himself too wide and shot over.