Shrewsbury Town 1 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

A Kieron Morris goal put the Saddlers in the ascendancy in Shropshire following a first-half dominated by Jon Whitney's side.

But Shrewsbury hit back after the break with Stefan Payne pulling the home side level.

In front of 1144 travelling Saddlers, Walsall will feel they should have taken all three points with Amadou Bakayoko missing two good goal scoring opportunities and Morris also close to a second.

The result means Walsall are now six without a win in League One but remain 14th in the table.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney made three changes to the team that secured a 1-1 draw with Oxford.

After Neil Etheridge was ruled out through injury, Craig MacGillivray came in for his first league start of season between the posts.

There were also recalls for the fit-again Eoughan O'Connell and Amadou Bakayoko as the Saddlers stuck with a 3-5-2 formation.

Shrewsbury, under the guidance of boss Paul Hurst, lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 system with Louis Dodds alongside Barnsley loanee Stefan Payne up front.

Walsall entered the game having won the last six league meetings between the sides and having lost just twice in 19 outings against their Shropshire rivals.

In what was a frantic start, Town almost got their noses in front straight from kick-off when Payne capitalised on a slip from O'Connell.

The striker burst through on goal unopposed but, on the angle, curled a strike wide when he should have done better.

Walsall's response was immediate with a smart back-heel from Makris allowing Bakayoko to race into the box before firing into the side netting.

Whitney's men looked to be building some momentum as the clock ticked past the 20 minute mark.

But they were almost caught on the break when a charging Isaiah Osbourne was robbed of possession on the edge of the box.

Salop broke at pace with Shaun Whalley firing a low drive straight at MacGillivray after being played in by Payne.

In what was proving an entertaining game, Walsall should have taken the lead just moments later when Jason McCarthy's low cross picked out Bakayoko.

The striker was well placed 12-yards from goal but side-footed agonisingly wide when he should have been celebrating his 11th of the campaign.

Town hit back with Dodds heading at Preston following a good Whalley delivery. From the resultant corner Aristote Nsiala headed wide.

But shortly after the half-hour mark, it was the Saddlers who took the lead after forcing a throw-in deep in Shrewsbury territory.

Osbourne played the ball back to Edwards who beat his man before delivering a pinpoint cross which Morris powerfully headed past Jayson Leutwiler from close range.

Within minutes Whitney's men should have doubled their advantage. Edwards did brilliantly to steal possession from Jack Grimmer before picking out Bakayoko in the box.

The striker then looked to fire past Leutwiler but the Canadian international burst off his line to block the effort before getting back to his feet to tip over a Morris strike from the edge of the box.

Shrewsbury went in search of an equaliser before the break with MacGillivray in the right place to claim after Whalley met a floating Dodds close.

And they threatened again shortly after the interval with Payne turning well inside the area before drilling a low drive that was expertly blocked by MacGillivray.

Walsall hit back with a lovely Bakayoko flick allowing Morris to dart into the box before firing wide of the far post.

Whitney made a double change shortly after the hour mark with Simeon Jackson and Flo Cuvelier replacing Makris and Morris.

But in the 70th minute Town got themselves back on terms following some poor Saddlers defending.

After O'Connell had completely missed the ball, Whalley sent in an inviting cross. And that was met by Payne who outmuscled McCarthy before placing a header beyond the reach of MacGillivray.

The goal changed the mood in Greenhous Meadow with Bakayoko then forced to hack clear following a succession of Shrewsbury corners.

Slowly but surely though Walsall began to regain a foothold on the game with McCarthy firing straight at Leutwiler from the edge of the box after a spell of patient build-up play.

Whitney made his final change with a little less than five minutes remaining, Mitch Candlin replacing Bakayoko.

Both teams then went in search of a winner to no avail in the closing stages with Walsall made to pay for not making their earlier dominance count.

Teams

Walsall: MacGillivray, McCarthy, O'Connor, Preston, O'Connell, Edwards, Osbourne, Chambers, Morris (Cuvelier 65), Bakayoko (Candlin 87), Makris (Jackson 65).

Subs not used: Ganley, Laird, Dobson, Moussa.

Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Sadler, Whalley, Dodds (Humphrys 46), Brown, Grimmer, B.Morris, Deegan, Nsiala, Rodman (Ladapo 60), Payne (Yates 90).

Subs not used: Halstead, Riley, Leitch-Smith, El-Abd