Southend 3 Walsall 0

Ten-man Walsall crashed to a limp defeat at relegation-threatened Southend after seeing Clayton McDonald dismissed in the first-half.

The defender saw red for a two footed challenge on Anthony Grant to become the third Saddlers man to be sent off in four games.

Franck Moussa's stunning 19th minute volley slammed the Shrimpers ahead, before Scott Spencer's header put the hosts in control early in the second -alf and Moussa capped the win with a late third.

Steve Jones and Moussa traded long range efforts, but the Southend winger fired the hosts ahead smashing in from the edge of the area after McDonald headed out Johnny Herd's throw in.

But McDonald's evening ended early with his sending off after going in hard on Grant 10 minutes before the break.

Matt Richards' free kick hit the bar in first-half stoppage time, but Southend doubled their lead on 51 minutes when Spencer glanced home Moussa's cross.

Osei Sankofa hit the bar for the Shrimpers after the break as Walsall failed to mount a fightback and Moussa capped a superb performance by heading home a third in the last minute.