Walsall played hosts to Brighton And Hove Albion in a game they were hoping to get something out of. It was always going to be a tough ask against the team who just needed the win to become champions. The first chance fell to the visitors as Ashley Grimes raced through but Andy Butler got a vital block in. However Brighton took the lead on six minutes when not for the first time this season The Saddlers failed to defend a corner properly.Inigo Calderon stepped forward to finish.
Soon afterwards we had a controversial incident when Grimes clearly dived in the box. Instead of the cheat being yellow carded Saddlers keeper Jimmy Walker got booked for something he said. A minute later Walsall were on level terms when following a Brighton defensive error from a corner Andy Butler headed home.
Two minutes after the interval Walsall fell behind again after failing to deal with yet another corner. Glenn Murray roamed in to beat Walker with a header. On the hour Walsall introduced Emmanuel Ledesma. Clayton Mc Donald landed awkwardly and he had to leave the field a few minutes later. Ledesma, meanwhile had only been on the pitch 20 minutes and was sent off for a two footed challenge.
As the game started to slip away from Walsall Elliott Bennett made it 3-1 to The Seagulls a minute before the end. So Brighton were crowned League One champions and Walsall stayed outside the bottom four as all bottom six clubs lost. Following a midweek win over Tranmere, Notts County have moved above Walsall which makes Saturday's visit by Sheffield Wednesday a must win game.
