Walsall boss Dean Smith went to the stands and Lee Beevers played in goal for an hour in a madcap game.

The manager was dismissed by referee David Phillips at half-time, after a controversial 45 minutes which condemned the 10-man Saddlers to defeat against Milton Keynes Dons.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker was sent off for handling outside the area on 33 minutes leaving right-back Beevers – recalled for Darryl Westlake – in goal with regular No 2 David Grof left out of the squad.

Dean Lewington scored the resultant free-kick and former Walsall favourite Jabo Ibehre made it 2-0, despite hints of offside, a minute before the break.

Claude Gnakpa hit both posts with the same shot as the valiant Saddlers battled back in the second-half, but defeat leaves them out of the League One drop zone only on goal difference.

Midfielder Mark Wilson was handed an instant debut for the Saddlers, after joining on a month’s loan from Doncaster yesterday with Beevers the only other change.

But the right-back wouldn’t have had an inkling of what was in store after a tepid opening.

Darren Potter’s tame effort flew straight at Walker, while Alex Nicholls screwed one well wide as both sides cancelled each other out.

The Saddlers would have taken solace from matching the Dons – seventh in League One prior to kick off despite one win in nine games – but failed to seriously hurt them.

Captain Andy Butler, on his 50th Walsall appearance, blocked well from Daniel Powell on 29 minutes but the game turned on 32 minutes, after Walker was sent off.

There seemed little danger when he came to claim the ball on the edge of his box but the veteran goalkeeper stepped out of his area – and was immediately sent off.

Beevers went between the sticks but was given no chance with Lewington’s free-kick, which screamed into the top corner.

In the aftermath, Jamie Paterson replaced Jon Macken but the Saddlers had a mountain to climb and, a minute before half-time, Dons doubled their lead with another controversial goal.

Beevers did well to block from Luke Chadwick but the ball bounced to Ibehre – who looked offside – to tap in.

The furious home players surrounded the officials but the goal was given – before Kevan Hurst limped off in first-half stoppage time and was replaced by Gnakpa.

Saddlers boss Smith was dismissed at the break but the controversy inspired the hosts, as Richard Taundry and Nicholls saw shots deflected wide immediately after the re-start.

Beevers claimed Stephen Gleeson’s effort with minimum fuss, before Manny Smith headed over Wilson’s free-kick.

The Saddlers were giving it a go – backed by a loyal support – but were left stunned when Nicholls fed Gnakpa and the substitute’s effort hit both posts, before bouncing out, on the hour.

Walsall were the better side, led by the tricky Paterson, but couldn’t score and Smith failed to get a decent connection on a header.

Beevers, comfortable in goal, claimed efforts from Powell and Gleeson on 78 minutes before taking Angelo Balanta’s shot.

Paterson, by far Walsall’s best outlet, twice fired off target before David Martin denied the livewire – pushing his 25-yard drive wide a minute from time.