Walsall boss Dean Keates reacts to Scunthorpe loss and Jack Fitzwater

In what was a poor game at the Banks's Stadium, Funso Ojo gave the visitors the lead when he smartly volleyed in a corner straight from the training ground.

A moment of brilliance from Nicky Devlin shortly after the break saw the Saddlers pull level.

But Lee Novak restored the Iron's lead in a drab game where both sides created very little.

"We feel we definitely did enough to get a minimum of a draw out of it," Keates said.

"We got the goal, we were on the front foot and we were looking the more capable but that’s what Scunthorpe are about – they are organised, disciplined and they stay in the game.

"I wouldn’t say smash and grab but I don’t recall our keeper actually making a save other than picking the ball out of the net twice.

"For long periods of the game, we were in control. But we’ve lost the game and it’s a difficult one to take."

Walsall announced before kick-off that Russell Martin had terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent for family reasons.

Jack Fitzwater was also not in the Saddlers squad despite Albion technical director Luke Dowling saying the defender would return to the Banks's Stadium on loan.

And Keates said he will now look for alternatives with the boss not having the time to wait for Albion's decision.

"Jack went back at the weekend, we were told he was going to be playing in the FA Cup and he was meant to be coming back to us, he said.

"That’s changed. He’s not our player. It’s up to West Brom whether they send him back or not.

“They’ve decided not to send him back. We will be looking elsewhere.

“I’m led to believe they want him to stay so they can have a look at him around their first-team squad. So, for us, we have to look elsewhere. We won’t be hanging about."