Walsall 2 Exeter 1

Nervy Walsall survived a second-half Exeter rally to claim their first win in nine games and lift themselves out of League One's drop zone.

Goals from Reuben Reid and Matt Richards put the Saddlers in charge, before Grecians defender Troy Archibald-Henville was sent off for two bookable offences just before the break.

Ryan Harley pulled one back on 53 minutes and the Saddlers rode their luck, as Steve Tully and John O'Flynn went close in injury time.

And they received a second boost when Steve Jones made a late comeback after seven weeks out with an ankle injury.

Andrew Davies and the excellent Martin Devaney were handed instant debuts after signing, on loan from Stoke and Barnsley respectively this week.

Oliver Lancashire was dropped from the squad completely, while Alex Nicholls was on the bench after Devaney's arrival.

After a tentative opening Exeter were the first to fire when Billy Jones' quick free-kick found Tully, who fed Jamie Cureton to drill just over.

The veteran shot wildly off target soon after, but there was a marked improvement in the Saddlers' play after last week's wretched 1-0 defeat at home to Yeovil.

Yet Exeter created the better chances and goalkeeper Jonny Brain spilled Scott Golbourne's cross to cause consternation in the hosts' defence after 16 minutes.

James Dunne glanced a header wide before Richards volleyed over after 22 minutes, following some composed build-up play.

The Saddlers then conjured a chance for debutant Davies five minutes later, when Ryan McGivern tossed in a deep free-kick and the on-loan Stoke man planted a free header wide from 10 yards.

Walsall were beginning to create and took the lead after 32 minutes following an Exeter horror show.

David Noble's poor pass wasn't cleared by Archibald-Henville, which allowed Jonathan Macken to nip in and cross for Reid who couldn't miss from six yards.

Brain had to be at his best to turn over Harley's 30-yard free-kick but the Saddlers went further ahead after 43 minutes, when Devaney's deep centre caught out goalkeeper Paul Jones and Richards nodded in for 2-0.

The visitors were then reduced to 10 men just before the break when Archibald-Henville – already booked for a scuffle with Davies – scythed down David Davis for a second yellow.

But, despite their man disadvantage, the Grecians halved the deficit eight minutes after the re-start when the Saddlers failed to clear a loose ball – after it hit referee Graham Salisbury – and Harley found the corner.

Suddenly the atmosphere turned from buoyant to nervy, as Brain gathered Harley's deflected effort and Exeter smelled a comeback.

The Saddlers weathered the inevitable storm without creating anything meaningfu,l before Dunne headed over with 13 minutes remaining.

Tully planted another header wide shortly after as the hosts rode their luck and the defender's injury time effort was then deflected over by McGivern.

John O'Flynn was inches away from making it 2-2 at the death but the Saddlers clung on.