Dean Smith looking for reinforcements

The manager admitted last night's 4-1 defeat may "force the issue" of snapping up new recruits to boost the Saddlers' flagging season.

Walsall were embarrassed by the Iron – who played 45 minutes with 10 men after David Prutton's red card – to extend their winless run to nine games.

And with Florent Cuvelier, Andy Taylor and now Ben Purkiss all out with hamstring injuries Smith admitted he needs to beef up his threadbare squad.

"We're trying all the time, we put phone calls in trying to get people. The result may force the issue to get someone in," said Smith, who handed a debut to Mal Benning and a full bow to Jake Jones.

"We have to assess Florent Cuvelier and see how long he's going to be – and also Andy Taylor – but there is the potential now to get someone in.

"We had three experienced players out injured and it's no excuse for the performance. I won't lay the blame on that. We weren't good enough."

Will Grigg's injury-time consolation did little to appease the fans with 2,787 the lowest home league gate of the season.

Niall Canavan's brace and goals from Mark Duffy and Leon Clarke earned third bottom Scunthorpe their first win in nine games and first under new boss Brian Laws.

But despite their wretched performance Smith denied his squad had been found out after their impressive start to the season.

"Preston pressed us and we beat them 3-1. It's about being on the front foot and be able to pass the ball under pressure," he said, with Walsall now 16th in League One.

"We didn't do that and they passed the ball better than us. They have good players and their position belies the squad they've got. If they'd been doing that two weeks ago then Alan Knill (former boss) would still be in a job.

"We haven't won recently but look at games against Crewe and Leyton Orient, we should have won the games.

"We're talking about performance levels and hopefully results will come with it but the last couple of games haven't been to the standard we need."