Walsall 1 Gillingham 1 - Report and pictures

Despite completely dominating the first half, the Saddlers found themselves a goal down after the break when Bradley Dack opened the scoring.

Dean Smith's side immediately hit-back through substitute Ashley Grimes and should have won it when Romaine Sawyers blazed horribly over.

But otherwise it was another disappointing result at the Banks's Stadium which sees the Saddlers remain in 15th position in League One.

Boss Smith made one change from the side that secured the historic aggregate win over Preston.

In came Ben Purkiss at right-back for James O'Connor as the Saddlers stuck with there favoured 4-2-3-1 system.

And it was the home side who started the brightest with some neat build up play sending Anthony Forde galloping away down the right flank.

The midfielder sent in a teasing low cross which Romaine Sawyers had time to control by the penalty spot.

But with the Banks's Stadium waiting for the net to burst, Sawyers scuffed a shot which was easily claimed by Stuart Nelson.

Smith's side had come flying out of the traps with no sign of a hangover from their Wembley celebrations.

And they again experienced joy down the right side with Adam Chambers dinking past his man and firing in a cross which a Gills defender did well to clear.

The away side had lined up in a narrow 4-4-2 giving the Walsall full-backs plenty of opportunity to get forward.

It seemed tactically naïve by the four first team coaches in charge of Gillingham as the home side continued to pile forward.

First Paul Downing saw a curling shot from the edge of the box brilliantly tipped around the post by Nelson.

From the resultant corner, a Tom Bradshaw volley was spectacularly cleared off the line by Cody McDonald.

Walsall were doing everything right but just seemed to be missing that bit of composure in the final third.

And they again should have broken the deadlock on the half hour mark when some brilliant build-up play saw the ball worked to Jordan Cook in the box.

With just the 'keeper to beat, the striker fired a shot at goal but Nelson ran out and spread himself brilliantly to keep the Saddlers at bay.

Gillingham were offering next to nothing as an attacking threat with a John Marquis shot from 25 yards sailing wide and over.

Undeterred, Walsall continued to press and had two glorious chances in first-half stoppage time.

First Bradshaw raced in on goal but Nelson was alert to the danger and narrowly beat him to the ball.

The 'keeper then made a spectacular save from a low Cook drive which seemed destined to hit the back of the net.

Smith replaced James Chambers with James O'Connor at the break with the defender coming on wearing some Petr Cech style headgear.

Gillingham simply couldn't play as badly as they had in the opening period and registered their first real chance on 50 minutes.

Jake Hessenthaler slipped in McDonald who needed to be forced towards to the corner flag by 'keeper Richard O'Donnell.

With the goal empty, McDonald managed to deliver a low cross but Andy Taylor kept is composure to clear at the second attempt.

Walsall hit back with Cook and Bradshaw combing well before the former Shrewsbury striker fired just wide.

Sadly for the Saddlers top scorer, it proved to be his last action of the match and he was replaced by Ashley Grimes having apparently picked up a knock.

The second half was proving to be a more drab affair with Walsall unable to dictate the tempo as they had in the opening 45.

And despite dominating, they suddenly found themselves behind against the run of play.

A long ball over the top from John Egan seemed to catch the Saddlers backline by surprise and Bradley Dack raced through and calmly slotted past O'Donnell.

It was a cruel, cruel blow for Smith's side with the Saddlers faithful adamant Dack was offside.

Minutes later though and Walsall showed bundles of character to draw level.

A right-wing cross was fumbled by Nelson and substitute Grimes was on hand to smash the ball home from close range for his first goal of the season.

The Banks's was now rocking and Walsall should have immediately capitalised.

The ball fell kindly in the box for an unmarked Sawyers but with the goal at his mercy the midfielder blazed horribly over when it was easier to score.

With the fourth official indicating four minutes of added time, Grimes tried to spin in the box a snatch a winner but the danger saw snuffed out.

The remaining seconds then ticked away to leave Saddlers fans pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result.