Two set-piece goals ensured Bristol Rovers suffered a third straight defeat and that was not the only woe for head coach Paul Trollope.

Michael Ricketts and Stephen Roberts were Walsall's scorers in a one-sided first half and Steve Elliott's second-half strike was all the Pirates had to show for their efforts.

And in stoppage time Byron Anthony was sent off for a professional foul on sub Troy Deeney before Ricketts slammed the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.

Rovers had retained the starting line-up which had began each of their previous five League One games.

And they had an early chance when Jeff Hughes laid back an Aaron Lescott throw but Stuart Campbell fired over the top.

Lescott was then needed at the other end to cut out a low left-wing cross that denied Ricketts an open goal.

But the once-capped England international scored from the resulting corner by Marco Reich. Anthony Gerrard flicked the ball on and Ricketts was unmarked in the six-yard box to turn the ball in. Gerrard took a knock in the incident and had to be replaced.

Ricketts volleyed wide from another corner and substitute Chris Palmer had goalkeeper Steve Phillips diving to his right to push away on 24 minutes.

Again from a corner by Reich, this time from the left flank, centre half Stephen Roberts glanced a near-post flick over everyone and under the crossbar at the far post.

Rickie Lambert had Rovers' first shot on target moments later but it was a tame effort straight at the keeper.

The home side's best move of the match saw Darryl Duffy get away down the right but both Lambert and Hughes failed to get a decent touch on his cross.

Rovers stepped it up after the break with Steve Elliott's 25-yarder forcing a save from Clayton Ince before Craig Disley's header was tipped against the bar and over.

Lambert then saw a low free-kick somehow cleared off the line after Ince had farcically tried to stand in front of his defensive wall just a few yards from the ball. Not surprisingly the eccentric keeper got a yellow card.

The comical nature of the game continued when Walsall manager Jimmy Mullen encroached the pitch to speak to one of his players and was then sent to the stands.

But Rovers were not laughing when Lambert latched onto a long ball to go clear but could only half-volley over the bar.

The hosts were dominating the second half but Alex Nicholls streaked away on the break and clipped the outside of the post with his curling strike.

Rovers pulled one back when a right-wing corner fell to the trusty left foot of Elliott and his effort scorched in off the underside of the bar.

Sub Jo Kuffour, who was making his home debut, almost levelled but Ince saved his shot after good work from Disley.

Ben Hunt and Anthony both had chances to equalise before Anthony's costly indiscretion.

 Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Phillips; Pipe (R Green 80), Anthony, Elliott, Lescott; Lines (Kuffour 64), Campbell, Disley, Hughes; Lambert, Duffy (Hunt 76). Subs not used: Hinton, M Green.

Walsall (4-4-2): Ince; Weston, Roberts, Gerrard (Palmer 11), Sansara; Nicholls, Mattis, Taundry, Reich (Deeney 62); Ibehre (Demontagnac 71), Ricketts. Subs not used: Gilmartin, Bradley.