Dean Smith crying foul after Walsall defeat

The Saddlers boss felt George Waring used his hand to put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute.

Second half goals from Waring and Sam Winnall then completed the win for the home side.

But Smith said: "The first goal is dubious, the lad has punched it and apparently he has admitted it. That is why the lads were so frustrated.

"It generally is obvious what is happened but I can't turn back a decision. We freeze-framed it on our analysts video and he punched it in.

"It is one of those things, some you get some you don't."

He went on: "The second and third goals were disappointing for us and that is the frustrating thing.

"The last ten minutes we played with just ten men as Adam Chambers had a high ankle sprain.

"The second half I thought we started quite well and went and played in their half. Jordy Hiwula had a good chance and just put it over.

"Apart from that it was a scrappy game and they played the percentages better than we did."

The defeat was the third in four games for the Saddlers and Smith felt the pitch and the conditions did not help.

"I'm frustrated with the game really," he said. "If I was to sum it up I would say it was a poor game.

"It was in poor conditions, on a poor pitch, with both teams having to play a game they don't usually have to play.

"They were better at it than we were and they defended better than we did.

"We had to play (long balls). I spoke about it at half-time, the pitch was terrible but they defended better than we did."