Walsall 1 Brighton 3

Brighton claimed the League One title at the Banks's Stadium after downing 10- man Walsall.

Second-half goals from Glenn Murray and Elliott Bennett clinched crown for the Seagulls despite a spirited – if disjointed – effort from the hosts.

Inigo Calderon headed the visitors in front before Andy Butler hauled the Saddlers level.

But their chances were over after substitute Emanuel Ledesma saw red for a challenge on Adam El-Abd after 79 minutes.

Results elsewhere ensured the Saddlers stayed out of the drop zone – at least until Tuesday night when Notts County play Tranmere.

Marco Gbarssin replaced Darren Byfield in the only change from the 3-2 win over Brentford, as Julian Gray partnered Jon Macken in attack.

Brighton started at a frantic pace and Butler blocked Ashley Barnes' effort before Gary Dicker curled just wide in the opening two minutes.

In the seventh minute they took the lead, when Richard Taundry and Jimmy Walker got in a tangle on the line to allow Calderon to nod in Bennett's corner from eight yards.

The goal left manager Dean Smith furious, as he felt Macken was fouled in the build-up to the corner.

But the Saddlers levelled 11 minutes into a pulsating game when Tommy Elphick sliced his clearance from Matt Richards' corner and Butler headed in from two yards.

Clayton McDonald was then forced off for stitches after a thunderous clash of heads with Gbarssin - to temporarily leave the Saddlers down to 10 men – before returning after treatment.

The defender made his presence felt on 25 minutes with a perfect challenge to thwart Murray, who would have been clean through.

The Saddlers hung on until two minutes after the break when Tom Williams' excellent tackle on Barnes to concede a corner, which Murray glanced in from six yards.

But Walsall almost equalised on 55 minutes when Macken fed Gray – but El-Abd whipped the ball off his toes as he prepared to pull the trigger.

Brighton were content to sit on their lead and hit the Saddlers on the break, as Walsall lost their second-half momentum.

However, the Saddlers came within inches of equalising with 20 minutes remaining Marcos Painter deflected Marc Laird's volley over – although the defender knew little about his crucial intervention.

Darren Byfield and Ledesma were thrown on to inject intent to the attack, but the Argentine midfielder only last 19 minutes before seeing red.

There seemed little intent in his challenge on El-Abd for a 50-50 ball, but it was an instantly dismissal from referee Jonathan Moss.

It left the Saddlers with a mountain to climb and Walker saved from Craig Noone, as Brighton sought a third.

Murray was denied a third by the linesman's flag late on and Albion loanee Chris Wood blazed over when put clean through.

But Bennett put the seal on Brighton's celebrations as they clinched the title in style, his 25-yard stunner beating Walker in the last minute.