Gallant Walsall suffered heartbreak after losing a two-goal lead to go down at Sheffield United.

Quickfire goals from Kevan Hurst – a former United trainee – and Will Grigg in the second-half put the Saddlers in control before Matthew Lowton pulled one back.

Lee Williamson equalised on 59 minutes before Richard Cresswell’s penalty – after Mat Sadler fouled Williamson – completed the Blades’ comeback.

Jon Macken hit the bar in the first0half and Hurst hit the post late on, as the Saddlers chased a deserved leveller.

Walsall dominated for long spells and it was only after United netted their first did they crumble.

Captain Andy Butler started after his red card appeal was successful, so they were unchanged from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Hartlepool.

And the Saddlers started well with Anton Peterlin twice firing wide and Macken going close.

The striker almost broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when his shot was turned onto the bar by goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

But Walsall finally made the breakthough 20 seconds after the break.

From the kick-off, the ball was worked to Hurst who cut in from the left and curled into the bottom corner – although Simonsen seemed to lose the ball in its flight.

Six minutes later it was 2-0, when Grigg smashed in a loose ball after Simonsen flapped at a corner.

Claude Gnakpa should have made it 3-0 when Simonsen spilled Hurst’s drive, but the goalkeeper recovered to save.

It would have been no more than the Saddlers deserved but United halved the deficit on 59 minutes, when Lowton swept home Jordan Slew’s low cutback.

The Blades smelled blood and Darryl Westlake cleared Cresswell’s header off the line soon after, but Williamson levelled on 68 minutes with a fine 20-yard effort.

It was one way traffic and Sadler, who had an otherwise outstanding game, brought down Williamson in the area and Cresswell smashed home the winner from the spot.

But the Saddlers almost claimed a deserved leveller when Simonsen dropped Richard Taundry’s cross, only for Hurst’s effort to deflect off Neill Collins and roll onto the post.