Walsall went down 1-2 at Preston but not without a fight and had the misfortune to not only score an own goal but suffered having a man sent off. It was always going to be tough at Preston but when Paul Downing, under pressure, took his eye off the positioning of goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell and put the ball wide of him to his left, it meant that O'Donnell had to scamper back and despite his very best efforts, could not prevent the ball from going over the line.
Walsall were soon on level terms a minute later when Sam Mantom smashed the ball home with an angled shot. Walsall held their own before Bailey Wright beat Andy Butler to the ball with a header from close range. In the second half Walsall were reduced to ten men when Mantom was sent off for a foul challenge. Substitute James Baxendale came close with a shot towards the end which the home keeper tipped over. Walsall probably deserved a point from the game but it wasn't meant to be.
