Walsall 3 Exeter 0
Steve Jones' classy brace put 10-man Exeter to the sword as Walsall recorded their biggest win of the season.
After a shaky start the Saddlers took control through Jones' third and fourth of the season, before Richard Duffy saw red after 67 minutes when he brought down Darren Byfield for a second yellow.
Troy Deeney completed the scoring, in a game which saw former boss Ray Graydon receive his Walk of Stars award at half time.
But goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin limped off with a hamstring injury before the break to dampen the host's celebrations.
Manny Smith replaced the injured Clayton McDonald in the only change, but it was the visitors who started brightest.
Ryan Harley's 25-yard effort was excellently parried by Gilmartin and, with 15 minutes gone, the midfielder forced the keeper into a better stop wby tipping his long-range strike past the post.
The Saddlers were second to everything as the visitors looked sharper and more confident, despite a 4-0 defeat to Huddersfield in their last outing.
The hosts were not matching Exeter's determination but, out of nothing, they took an improbable lead after 29 minutes.
Darren Byfield wriggled free on the right and his cross was dummied by Deeney for Jones to smash past goalkeeper Andy Marriott from 15 yards.
It was the Saddlers' first effort and three minutes later they almost doubled their lead when Byfield shot wide.
Gilmartin was forced off five minutes before the break and was replaced by Clayton Ince ,but Walsall went in 2-0 up thanks to Jones.
The winger was allowed to run from deep and he smashed an excellent 25 yarder low past Marriott.
Bertie Cozic had an early chance after the break, but his shot was blocked by Mark Hughes.
After 53 minutes Jones almost claimed his hat-trick, when Duffy headed his curling effort off the line.
Adam Stansfield fired over as the visitors tried to respond but they were reduced to 10 men after Duffy received his second yellow, for a cynical bodycheck on Byfield after 67 minutes.
Three minutes later Deeney made the game safe, when a kind ricochet put him clean through to comfortably beat Marriott.
Exeter's Steve Tully clipped the post late on and Jones forced Marriott into a sharp save, as the Saddlers took the points.
