'Injuries, offside call and key absences' - 5 key points from Walsall's defeat against Grimsby

Evan Khouri scored the only goal for the visitors in the 68th-minute, before new signing Ryan Finnigan had a late goal controversially ruled out for offside. 

Here are the main talking points from the Saddlers' midweek defeat.

Double injury blow 

The loss of Jonny Stuttle to injury in the first half was a bitter pill to swallow, but it felt as if Walsall were cursed when Mason Hancock had to be stretchered off after the start. 

Both looked like serious knee injuries, both appear to be poised for significant spells on the side lines. 

Walsall needed another centre-forward prior to Stuttle's injury, but his inevitable absence suggests two could be needed before the end of the transfer window. 

Aaron Pressley looks a threat as the main target man, but Albert Adomah and Jamille Matt, with a combined age of 72, clearly isn't the answer. Josh Gordon, who has his critics, was also not in the squad for the second game in a row. 

With four goals between them since the beginning of February, it's difficult to see where the goals are going to come from in attack. 

Offside call 

Walsall had ample chances to at least come away with a point. Christy Pym made a string of saves to deny Lewis Warrington, Charlie Lakin and Jamie Jellis in the first half and Dan Cox crashed a powerful strike from distance off the crossbar. 

The most poignant moment came when debutant Finnigan was denied a late equaliser for offside, which Sadler argued afterwards was the wrong call. 

Jake Hollman floated the ball to the back post where Cox appeared to be in line with the last man, although it did look extremely tight. 

His header was clawed onto the crossbar by Pym and Finnigan got in front of Albert Adomah to head in the on the line.

Where is Evan Weir? 

Weir started the season with a sensational free-kick eight minutes into the Saddlers' 2-1 win over Swindon in their League Two opener. 

He appeared to do very little wrong in the 1-0 defeat at Gillingham, but has not featured, or even been in the squad since. 

Sadler has made it clear that his absence is purely selection-related but Walsall seem to lack attacking impetus from deep without him. 

Plus, with Hancock set to be lost to injury, Walsall will need Weir's set piece expertise in games. 

Cox offers defensive balance and acquitted himself excellent in the 2-1 win at Barnet on Saturday after a couple of nervy moments. 

The teenager suffered a kind of paradoxical fate against Grimsby whereby he produced a solid performance for 70 minutes, before crumbling once Grimsby scored. 

It would be amiss to be over critical considering his age and lack of experience, but Walsall fans will be miffed if Weir is not recalled for the lunch-time kick-off against Salford. 

Comley absence 

Another notable absentee was Brandon Comley, who has impressed in the past two games at Stoke and Barnet respectively. 

Warrington did relatively will in the first half, but was caught in possession on numerous occasions after the interval.

There was no injury issue with Comley and it was a strange call from Sadler considering his recent form. 

Roberts recovers 

Myles Roberts was at fault for Barnet's goal when he misjudged the flight of Anthony Hartigan's corner and presented Ollie Hawkins with the chance to head home from a matter of yards. 

So he would've been relieved when he win his first high claim early on and that set the tone for an excellent performance for the Walsall goalkeeper. 

The Watford loanee produced a fantastic save to turn Jaze Kabia's finish on to the post in the dying embers of the first half. 

He then smartly smothered Charlie Vernam's shot and got two strong palms to another fierce effort from Grimsby skipper Kieran Green.