Wrexham slip up! Paul Mullin penalty not enough as Red Dragons fall to rare League Two defeat against mid-table Walsall

The home side were clearly buoyed by the 8,709 strong at the Poundland Bescott Stadium and took a deserved lead through Jack Earing. The midfielder exchanged a brilliant one-two with Freddie Draper - who produced an exquisite back-heeled assist - before scoring a much-celebrated goal on his first start in almost a year. It didn't take long for Wrexham to get back in the contest, though, when Paul Mullin smashed home from the spot following a clear-cut handball decision.

The equaliser was, in truth, against the run of play, and Walsall restored their one-goal advantage on the hour mark. Isaac Hutchinson had been threatening all game, and it was his mazy run that won the home side a free-kick. The midfielder then stepped up confidently and rifled home a sublime long-range effort, although questions may have been asked over Arthur Okonkwo's positioning. The Wrexham 'keeper certainly could have done better on David Okagbue's effort late on, instead pushing out to Taylor Allen for him to tap home and complete a memorable 3-1 victory for Walsall.

Hutchinson's fine effort was his ninth of the season - which was coincidentally his first goal in nine games.

Walsall were simply the better side on the night, and had a number of players to thanks for their result. Tom Knowles was lively down the right and Earing celebrated a memorable moment to get the ball rolling, but the game truly belonged to Hutchinson. The Saddlers midfielder was a nuisance and simply too much for Phil Parkinson's side to deal with, his tricky skills finding space and his pinpoint passing a constant threat. Nothing personified his display more than his winning - and scoring - of a sumptuous free-kick. Sublime.

It seems harsh to blame Okwonko for all three of Walsall's goals, but the Red Dragons shot stopper should have been stronger for two of them. Hutchinson's strike was well hit but Okwonko seemed to set himself too far wide in the goal for a centrally placed dead ball, and his wrists were certainly weak for Okagbue's cross-come-shot which helped round out the game. An overall shaky display from the on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper, but admittedly not his worst ever performance.

Parkinson will have to lift his side after they fell to just their fourth league defeeat of the campaign, and their first loss since November 18 against Accrington Stanley. The Red Dragons are next up at home to Barrow on New Year's Day.