PLAYER VERDICTS: '˜Keeper drops the ball and the man-of-the-match prize

Centre-backs Dominic Ball and Ryan Tafazolli instead competed for the top honour from a 2-0 defeat as another change to the Posh strike force failed to come off.

Luke McGee: He will be remembered for the error that effectively cost Posh the game, when the reality is he’d made a couple of fine saves to keep his side level before then. An unseemly argument with Dominic Ball after the ‘keeper appeared to be slow coming off his line 6.5

Michael Smith: Solid enough, supported Gwion Edwards well down the right side in the promising early stages of the game. Surprisingly substituted midway through the second half to accommodate a change in formation 6

Andrew Hughes: He’s a more consistent defender than Binnom-Williams (who he replaced here), but he was up against it for most of this game as a marauding right wing-back was rarely marked adequately by the Posh midfielders. No attacking threat 6

Dominic Ball: Good performance if one ignores the ‘push-and-shove’ with his own goalkeeper. A couple of fine saving tackles and if he does get caught out of position he is usually quick enough to recover 7

Ryan Tafazolli: Another steady display from a powerful man who makes few defensive errors. He’s a commanding figure, and should probably be promoted to skipper 7

Anthony Grant: Not as efficient as his previous displays, but possibly bothered by a soft early caution which will trigger a two-game suspension at a time when Posh need him most. Caught in possession for the second Walsall goal, but he’d been left on his own at the back 6

Chris Forrester: No idea what’s been up with the captain in recent games and his late red card was the result of an appalling, unforgiveable act of foul and abusive language towards an official. He hadn’t played well before his moment of madness. Needs relieving of the captaincy duties and told to work his way back to his Chelsea form 4

Gwion Edwards: Played with plenty of dash and two great crosses early on caused Walsall problems. Became sloppier as the game wore on, but still more of a threat on goal than his team-mates. Suffered what looked like a terrible injury late on 6.5

Paul Taylor: Started out wide, roamed around a bit, but totally ineffective. Don’t remember a shot at goal or a decent pass or cross 4.5

Craig Mackail-Smith: His workrate can be taken for granted, but his touch, his passing and the timing of his movements forward were all lacking 5

Junior Morias: One fine effort from a free kick in the first half and one good strike that was well saved in the second-half. He did okay, but the partnership with Mackail-Smith never looked like being a success 5

Substitutes:

Lee Angol: (for Smith, 70 mins)

Marcus Maddison: (for Taylor, 70 mins)

Martin Samuelsen: (for Edwards, 84 mins)

Jack Baldwin: (not used).

Leo Da Silva Lopes: (not used).

Tom Nichols: (not used)

Mark Tyler: (not used).