Walsall 1 Scunthorpe 4 - match report
Wretched Walsall's winless woes continued as they were embarrassed by 10-man Scunthorpe.
The Saddlers are winless in nine games after Niall Canavan's double, Mark Duffy's tap in and Leon Clarke's strike handed Scunthorpe a deserved win.
Walsall, second to everything and lacking passion, failed to capitalise on David Prutton's red card just before half time with the visitors already 2-0 up.
And they collapsed after the break as Canavan's header four minutes after the break killed the game with Clarke adding a late fourth.
Will Grigg struck an injury time consolation on a shocking night for the Saddlers.
Jake Jones was handed a full debut and Richard Taundry replaced Ben Purkiss, missing with a hamstring injury.
But the changes failed to spark the Saddlers as the Iron, out to impress new boss Brian Laws, bossed the limp hosts.
The Iron had already threatened before they took a deserved 12 minute lead when Canavan powered in Duffy's far post corner.
It exposed Walsall and the Iron were denied a second soon after when Clarke's blistering strike was disallowed after Hawley's foul.
Walsall were floundering and the visitors grew in confidence as the Saddlers visibly waned with George Bowerman a lonely figure up front.
And only Andy Butler's brilliant goal-saving challenge denied Hawley a goal on his return after the striker burst clean through.
The craft of the injured Florent Cuvelier was desperately missing and Walsall fell further behind on 30 minutes.
Scunthorpe pulled Walsall apart down the left and when Grof parried Hawley's shot Duffy tapped in.
It was turning into a nightmare evening for the Saddlers before they were handed a supposed lifeline when Prutton was sent off after a rash challenge on Adam Chambers.
The midfielders went into a full-blooded tackle right on half time with Chambers just getting there first with Prutton going over the top.
Will Grigg replaced Jones at half time but the hosts conceded again as Canavan made it 3-0 with his second on 49 minutes – a carbon copy of his first from a corner.
Walsall were rocked but at least mustered a response as they began to play and Midlenhall's sprawling save denied James Baxendale from distance on 62 minutes.
Adam Chambers shot over and Mal Benning replaced James Chambers to make his Saddlers debut but the game had already gone.
And Clarke piled on the misery to make it 4-0 with 16 minutes remaining when he latched onto a long punt, lifted the ball over Grof and tapped in.
Grigg netted at the death when he went clean through but it of was little consolation.