Huddersfield 1 Walsall 0

Walsall sunk back to the bottom of League One after a limp defeat against 10-man Huddersfield.

The Saddlers are five points from safety following just one win in 12 games, despite the hosts playing 66 minutes with 10 men after Alan Lee's dismissal.

Travelling supporters again chanted for manager Chris Hutchings' dismissal during a lifeless second-half, where Walsall failed to put their hosts under pressure.

Anthony Pilkington's first-half screamer won it for the Terriers to leave the Saddlers boss on the brink.

Jimmy Walker made an instant return after re-signing for the club until January, as Jonny Brain was axed following the 4-1 defeat to Tranmere last week.

Martin Devaney was missing while Reuben Reid had to settle for a place on the bench, with Andrew Davies already out with a thigh tear.

Darryl Westlake made his first appearance since mid-September, while Julian Gray and Clayton McDonald also returned.

Aaron Lescott was deployed as a holding midfielder as the Saddlers lined up in an unfamiliar 4-1-4-1 formation, with Jonathan Macken a lone striker.

Steve Jones skimmed an early drive wide and it took Huddersfield 20 minutes to create their first effort, when Graham Carey acrobatically volleyed over.

But the game suddenly sparked into life four minutes later, when Lee was sent off for elbowing Smith as the pair challenged for the ball.

The striker's dismissal gave the Saddlers hope but they fell behind on 36 minutes despite their man advantage.

Pilkington was allowed time and space 30-yards out and unleashed a rasping low drive into the corner.

It was the winger's sixth goal in his last five games and stunned the Saddlers who failed to respond, Macken struggling with little support.

But within three minutes of the re-start Lescott had goalkeeper Ian Bennett diving to push his low drive behind – the Saddlers' first shot on target.

Peter Clarke blocked Westlake's 57th minute effort but the Saddlers couldn't force the issue, despite their man advantage.

Huddersfield continued to dictate the tempo and Hutching threw Nicholls and Reid on, switching to 4-4-2 in the process.

But they were unable to put the Terriers under pressure, their powder-puff attack failing to make a dent.

Richard Taundry's ambitious effort sailed wide seven minutes from time, as Huddersfield held onto the points with ease.