Peterborough 4 Walsall 1

Battling Walsall slipped to defeat at Peterborough to leave them eight points adrift of League One safety.

The Saddlers dominated long spells and the result flattered Posh who scored three goals in the final 20 minutes.

But the result will do little for manager Chris Hutchings' job prospects with the pressure rising.

Alex Nicholls headed the Saddlers ahead before Craig Mackail-Smith' double put Posh in charge and Wolves loanee Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored a controversial third.

The youngster was clearly offside before he rounded goalkeeper Jonny Brain to score and the Saddlers' frustrations boiled over, as assistant manager Martin O'Connor was sent to the stands for protesting.

Ryan Bennett netted in the final minute to floor the Saddlers going into their relegation battles at Tranmere and Bristol Rovers.

Richard Taundry failed to recover from his ankle injury, but Paul Marshall and Reuben Reid returned for Ryan McGivern and Will Grigg following the awful 3-0 defeat to Notts County.

Andy Butler was named captain for the first time, as the Saddlers sought more leadership at the back. The changes worked immediately as Walsall clicked.

Paul Marshall spilt the Posh defence with a fine 60-yard pass to send Nicholls through, but the striker could only shoot weakly at Joe Lewis after six minutes.

But, four minutes later, the striker atoned for his miss when he nodded in Reid's floated cross from five yards.

It was richly deserved after a superb start against a ragged Posh side who struggled against the Saddlers' verve and vitality.

Arron Davies curled over the top but the hosts had been outclassed in the opening stages.

Reid, who had a loan spell at London Road last season, turned Nicholls' cross just over on 24 minutes as Walsall bossed the game.

Brain, who had been largely untroubled, flapped at a corner before saving from Adam Clayton on the half hour in a rare moment of danger.

But the stopper was beaten on 36 minutes – against the run of play – when Mackail-Smith latched onto Clayton's flick, held off the challenge of Butler and volleyed in from eight yards.

It was hardly a fair reflection of the game and the Saddlers almost deservedly retook the lead when Lewis parried Marshall's low drive two minutes before the break.

Fresh from a half-time rollicking Posh returned with more intent and Gabriel Zakuani headed over three minutes after the re-start.

Mackail-Smith hit the side netting and Lee Tomlin drilled over the bar as the Saddlers started to slip but Nicholls should have done better than sidefoot at Lewis after 55 minutes.

Marshall had the goalkeeper stretching again two minutes later, as his low effort was blocked with the game there for the taking.

Both sides lacked the quality but Brain produced a fine save to deny Chris Whelpdale, after Davies opened the Saddlers up on 68 minutes.

But, three minutes later, Posh took the lead when Grant McCann found Mackail-Smith at the far post and the striker couldn't miss.

The Saddlers rallied and Lewis turned Butler's header wide, before a killer blow when Mendez-Laing bagged a controversial third on 81 minutes. The striker latched onto Clayton's long ball but was clearly offside before rounding Brain and scoring.

It infuriated the Saddlers and O'Connor was sent from the dugout for dissent while Aaron Lescott was booked.

But worse was to follow in injury time when Bennett fired in from McCann's corner.