Walsall 1 Scunthorpe 4 - analysis and pictures

But even the souls who braved it to the end couldn't muster the energy to launch into a full scale attack.

Shellshocked as the Saddlers collapsed 4-1 to a Scunthorpe side without a win in their previous eight games the subdued efforts told their own story.

On a night of politics across the pond the Saddlers could be labelled as the Iron Ladies rather than Iron Men after a wretched effort.

And the lowest league crowd of the season – 2,787 – showed the floating voters are becoming disillusioned.

Walsall are winless in nine after a defeat to third bottom Iron who sacked boss Alan Knill last week and no amount of speeches can explain away what was offered last night.

Boss Dean Smith rejected the suggestion his team lacked the passion and fight – something he has never had to do before – but something he had to deflect to protect his battered troops.

And if there was any lingering momentum from their fine start left it was ruthlessly stamped out by Scunthorpe.

It was the worst display under Smith with the Saddlers having lurched from one extreme to the other in the space of six weeks.

No cohesion, no flare and, despite Smith's denial, little bottle. It is something to say this team played without spirit but for long spells the accusation was inescapable.

There is a train of thought, though, that the side is just levelling out. They are winless in nine but, for the majority, the performances have been there. Results are needed, of course, but it would have taken a monumental effort to maintain previous form.

Despite Walsall's arguments a fall was going to happen it was how they reacted to it. The acid test comes after their biggest defeat.

Previous losses against Carlisle, Shrewsbury and Leyton Orient came with the silver lining of a performance – something that was missing last night.

The harsh truth is the players are at Walsall because they are inconsistent and are not always good enough.

It's just where they are and where they have been for many seasons before. While they were desperately poor, more so than ever before, is this not just the real Walsall, inconsistent and frustrating?

There is little depth in the squad to help that and one glance at the bench sees only Will Grigg as a realistic goal threat.

Mal Benning made his debut while Jake Jones was given his first start but they will be unable to halt the slide.

Time is on their side as they start their careers but it is not a commodity the Saddlers have if they want to avoid another season of struggle.

Defeat leaves them 16th – five points above the drop zone – with an eerie feeling we've been here before.

The missing Florent Cuvelier created a chasm in the midfield while Andy Taylor's experience and influence is often overlooked.

The loan window closes before the end of the month and Smith must use it. He still has faith in his men but whether they still have faith in themselves is another issue.

Confidence is hit and it is something they must rediscover ahead of Saturday's Swindon visit and next Tuesday's FA Cup replay with Lincoln.

Certainly it was lacking last night as they fell behind after just 12 minutes when Niall Canavan powered in Mark Duffy's corner.

Clarke's blistering volley was then disallowed after Karl Hawley's foul with the visitors threatening to run riot.

Walsall's best moment came from Andy Butler wonderful goal-saving challenge to deny Hawley – before United doubled their lead on 30 minutes.

It was all too easy as Scunthorpe sliced through the Saddlers and when Hawley's shot was saved Duffy tapped in.

Walsall offered nothing in response but they were handed a lifeline on 45 minutes when Prutton was sent off after a bone-crunching challenge on Adam Chambers.

Neither midfielder gave way with Chambers getting to the ball first as Prutton went over the top and walked.

But the red had the opposite effect on Walsall, who replaced Jones with Grigg at half time, as Scunthorpe made it 3-0 on 49 minutes when Canavan crashed in his second header.

Game over. The tired Saddlers' only response was James Baxendale's shot which was turned wide by Steve Mildenhall.

Leon Clarke then lobbed over Grof to tap in the visitors' fourth 16 minutes from time as the result went from erratic to embarrassing.

Grigg stroked in during stoppage time but there was no escape, no hiding place. Time to stand up and be counted.

Walsall (4-4-1-1): Grof 4; Taundry 5, Butler 6, Holden 5, J Chambers 4 (Benning, 66, 6), Baxendale 6 (Williams, 81), A Chambers 5, Featherstone 6, Jones 5 (Grigg, 46, 6); Paterson 6; Bowerman 6. Subs not used: Hemmings, Morris, Downing, Walker (gk).

Scunthorpe (4-4-2): Mildenhall; Ribeiro, Reid, Canavan, Walker (Mozika, 78); Barcham (Kennedy, 66), Prutton, Duffy (Ryan, 86); Clarke, Hawley. Subs not used: Grella, Jennings, Gibbons, Slocombe (gk).

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)

Attendance: 2,787