Walsall 2 Carlisle 2 - Analysis

Of the 16 goals at the Banks's Stadium this season seven have been scored in the final 10 minutes. Five have been scored by the visitors, with only two going to the Saddlers.

The hosts have won three points while they have thrown away seven. Add those points up and they would be joint fourth with Colchester on 21.

It happened again on Saturday. For Leeds and Swindon, add Carlisle to the list.

The Saddlers were hit by a sucker punch as Richard Keogh's 90th minute leveller robbed them of first back-to-back home wins since February.

It brought back the memories of all those late goals shipped last season, goals which ruined the campaign. But Walsall have proved they can learn, and learn they must if they are to avoid another problematic season.

It was made all the more frustrating by the fact Carlisle were there for the taking, but the Saddlers never found their stride.

Even when Darren Byfield's third goal of the season put them ahead you were never really convinced they would ram the advantage home.

Frustrating, infuriating, exasperating. Depending on which word you use the fact remains the Saddlers are not quite there yet. The strikers are causing problems, the defence – with the soon-to-be tied down Clayton McDonald – are solid but the midfield is the concern.

Two moments from Dwayne Mattis encapsulated the good and bad elements of the central quartet. Firstly his driving run led to Byfield's opener, but a minute before the break his careless play allowed Matt Robson to equalise.

Alex Nicholls was a peripheral figure before his substitution and Matt Richards is solid, but lacks the pace and the creativity to be considering a long-term option left wing option.

Granted, he has played a part in three of the last four goals but hasn't always been entirely convincing. But Mark Bradley has been the most infuriating of them all. Handed his big chance after injuries to others, the 21-year-old needed to make his mark.

He is doing enough, just, but is that enough in itself for someone with so much potential?

As boss Chris Hutchings has stated in the past, potential is a big word. Bradley has plenty of it, and a bad player isn't a regular at under-21 level, but he needs to start realising it.

Bradley is one of the graduates from the highly productive youth system but for everything made of the Saddlers' youngsters, it was two old stagers who grabbed the headlines at the weekend.

Steve Jones and Byfield – two 30 somethings – almost won it to prove there is life in the old dogs yet. Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington challenged Jones to force his way back into the national side last week and the 32-year-old issued the perfect response. Just four minutes after his 70th minute introduction he netted what should have been the winner.

Jones has the experience and ability to cause havoc in League One. He may have lost a yard of pace, but the extra nous will always prove crucial against the clogging centre-backs who inhabit the third tier. He will be at the forefront of the manager's mind for the trip to MK Dons on Saturday.

Byfield's youthful enthusiasm belies his 33 years. The striker is revelling in his Indian summer since his return to the Banks's Stadium.

While his three-goal haul from seven games may not be prolific, his overall play has raised the Saddlers' game.

The striker could have been playing against the Saddlers after Carlisle boss Greg Abbott revealed he tried to sign the striker before his Banks's comeback. How Walsall love their hero. He cares about the club and that is evident in his play.

But he will be as frustrated as everyone after another weekend of ifs and buts. The hosts had netted with their first effort of the match after 33 minutes. Mattis' driving run – something the midfielder must do more – led to Byfield firing the Saddlers ahead. It owed much to David Raven's unfortunate slip, but Byfield finished with style.

It came at the right time as the visitors had started to press. Former Albion hitman Scott Dobie had already been denied by a last-gasp challenge from Hughes and Joe Anyinsah also had cause for complaint, as referee Steve Cook turned a blind eye to Hughes' tug in the box.

But after going behind Carlisle levelled a minute before the break. Mattis carelessly lost possession, with Robson needing no second invitation to advance and fire an unstoppable 25-yard effort past goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

Richards should have restored the lead immediately after the restart but scuffed wide, before the hosts grabbed a second breakthrough.

Deeney unleashed a thunderous effort which cannoned off the inside of the post and Jones added the finishing touch. It should have been the winner and looked like it was until Graham Kavanagh was granted time and crossed for Keogh to add some more late heartbreak.

By Nick Mashiter