Exeter 4 Walsall 2 - analysis

After the final whistle Dean Smith threw down his plastic cup in anger.

His fury and frustration was encapsulated in one moment on the St James Park touchline as Walsall's League One future hangs in the balance.

His troops had reached the dressing room as the manager took stock in a rapidly-emptying stadium. And such was his mood it wouldn't be a surprise to see some broken crockery at the Smith breakfast table today.

Saturday's 4-2 loss at Exeter left the Saddlers clinging to survival with two games remaining and nerves starting to shred.

But the scoreline, as so often is the case, doesn't tell the whole story.

It typified Walsall's season, defeat tinged with injustice, as Manny Smith's controversial dismissal and Florent Cuvelier's 'ghost goal' left the Saddlers feeling robbed.

Cuvelier's first-half effort hit one post, rolled across goal and hit the other with TV replays suggesting the ball had crossed the line.

Such is Walsall's luck nothing was given and a game they should have won rapidly descended into a one which could have far reaching consequences.

The cushion to the League One drop zone remains three points – four if you count the superior goal difference – after Wycombe's 2-1 defeat at champions Charlton.

But, looming large is a potential disaster with the Saddlers only having themselves to blame.

Second-from-bottom Exeter, Chesterfield and Wycombe can all catch them over the final two games.

And Huddersfield and MK Dons – both guaranteed their play-off places – aren't the ideal end-of-season opponents when you are trying to secure safety.

Make no mistake, from a position of relative comfort three games ago, Walsall now face another almighty fight.

Forget the fact 21st-placed Wycombe have tough asks against Notts County and Sheffield Wednesday, had Walsall wrapped up the season like they should the Chairboys wouldn't matter. Chesterfield, with Yeovil and Brentford to come, will fancy their chances now though.

Confidence will be hit after three straight defeats at the wrong time. And Saturday was as controversial as it was destructive.

Boss Smith received an apology from referee Mark Brown last week after his blunder against Tranmere and following defender Smith's laughable dismissal the manager should expect a grovelling one from Saturday's official, Roger East.

How the Wiltshire referee could see the centre-back warranted a second yellow after the briefest of tangles with Daniel Nardiello only he knows.

Smith brushed the former Wolves kid and down he went. Yes, the Saddlers had played themselves into an awful position but Smith didn't deserve to walk and it was decisive.

At 2-1 Walsall were cruising but after 25 mad minutes they were 4-2 down and staring at another nail-biting finale.

Saturday was a prime example of their failure to kill off an inferior team when they were on top. Cuvelier's 'goal' was missed before Alex Nicholls swapped passes with Jon Macken and coolly swept in.

Kevan Hurst, Mat Sadler and Emmanuel Ledesma all should have added to the lead – Ledesma especially when he blazed over two minutes after the break.

Nardiello capitalised to head level before Cuvelier clinically fired the Saddlers back ahead from the edge of the area just 10 minutes into the second half.

Walsall were in control, Exeter, who had to win, looked down. But then it all changed on 65 minutes.

Smith walked after Nardiello's tumble and Alan Gow brilliantly chipped in 90 seconds later to equalise.

Shell-shocked, the Saddlers fell apart as Gow bagged his brace and Liam Sercombe – who earlier hit the bar – stabbed in a late fourth to cash in on woeful defending.

Will Grigg and Ledesma were then denied by keeper Lenny Pidgeley in injury time as Exeter lived to fight another day.

Walsall have two games left to win their fight and the anger and frustration must be forgotten. Clear heads are now desperately needed.

By Nick Mashiter