Walsall out of the FA Cup on penalties
Walsall crashed out of the FA Cup on penalties after a shocking display against Dagenham.
Walsall crashed out of the FA Cup on penalties after a shocking display against Dagenham.
Alex Nicholls, Claude Gnakpa and Lee Beevers all missed from the spot to send the Saddlers out 3-2 on penalties to the Football League's bottom club, following a goalless draw after extra-time.
The Daggers now host Millwall in the third round and Walsall will entertain Bournemouth in League One that weekend.
The Saddlers were awful, failing to impress or impose themselves on a wretched Dagenham team who have lost nine straight League Two games.
A head injury to Manny Smith late in the second-half also saw the hosts reduced to 10 men, as the defender was carried off and they had used all their substitutes.
The defender, who was knocked out at Millwall in 2009, received a kick to the head in the Dagenham area and needed seven minutes of treatment.
Smith was sitting up when he left the field but is likely to be a doubt for Saturday's trip to Chesterfield.
Darryl Westlake returned after six weeks out with ankle ligament damage for the suspended Mat Sadler and Anton Peterlin replaced on-loan Middlesbrough winger Andy Halliday.
The Saddlers lined up 4-3-3 with Alex Nicholls and Jamie Paterson flanking central striker Jon Macken, but it was the Daggers who settled the quicker.
Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker saved from Abu Ogogo and Brian Woodall, while Nicholls' low effort was easily claimed by Chris Lewington during an instantly forgettable first-half.
The biggest moment of note was when birthday boy Oliver Lancashire pulled up with a hamstring injury – almost letting the Daggers in – 10 minutes before half-time.
It was harsh on the defender, who had impressed recently, but captain Andy Butler returned to the biggest cheer of a dire first 45 minutes.
The second started with barely a whimper but Peter Gain's looping effort from Dagenham's quickly worked free kick just cleared Walker's bar.
The Saddlers – once again devoid of tempo and inspiration – struggled but finally drew a decent save from Lewington when he tipped Macken's drive wide.
But they were hit again from the resulting corner when Smith was stretchered off, after being knocked down by a kick to the head 12 minutes from time.
The defender was given seven minutes of treatment before leaving on a stretcher, although he was sitting up and conscious as he was carried off.
It meant 10 minutes of injury time – which saw Gain head over, Claude Gnakpa glance wide and Anton Peterlin fire over.
Extra time ensued and Macken's free kick whistled over but the game went to penalties.
Macken scored before Nicholls and Gnakpa missed and Walker saved from Richard Rose.
George Bowerman netted but Brian Woodall's successful conversion left Beevers needing to score and Lewington saved his kick.



