Crystal Palace cheered up their suffering fans at long last with their first home win since the turn of the year.
It was left to a Dougie Freedman penalty on 33 minutes and a late strike from Wayne Routledge to earn the Eagles the points as Walsall saw double red.
Carl Robinson went on 61 minutes with a straight red for an elbow on Julian Gray and Martin O'Connor followed on 81 minutes after collecting a double yellow.
After a tedious opening first half hour, Palace managed to break through on 33 minutes after Ian Roper dragged down Freedman. The Eagles hitman made no mistake from the spot as the ball nestled firmly into the bottom left corner.
Mr Penton awarded Palace a second penalty on 60 minutes after Roper handled in the goalmouth, but with Freedman off with a calf strain Tommy Black's effort was saved by James walker with a diving stop to his right.
Walsall plugged away and Jorge Leitao wasted several chances and near the end a Darren Wrack drive was tipped over by Aleksandrs Kolinko.
But Wayne Routledge put the result beyond doubt for the Eagles in the closing minute with a low shot after being set up by Dele Adebola.