Walsall 1 Blackpool 1 - Report and pictures

The Saddlers, who are still unbeaten at the Banks’s Stadium this season, took a first-half lead when Erhun Oztumer curled home a scintillating free-kick in the 17th minute.

But they were pegged back after the interval when substitute Viv Solomon-Otabor cut into the box before firing past Mark Gillespie.

In truth, a draw was the least the Tangerines deserved with Gary Bower’s side the better team until the 70th minute.

But Walsall responded well to conceding and they thought they had won it when Jon Guthrie powered in a header from a corner only to see the goal controversially ruled out.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney opted to keep faith with the team that secured a 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury last time out.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 3-5-2 formation with Kory Roberts keeping his place at the heart of the defence and Amadou Bakayoko partnering Daniel Agyei up front.

Skipper Adam Chambers, who was a doubt before kick-off with a hamstring problem, was fit enough to be named amongst the substitutes.

Blackpool lined up in a 4-3-3 system that saw Nathan Delfouneso and Callum Cooke operate either side of centre-forward Kyle Vassell.

In an opening 15 minutes dominated by the visitors, Gary Bowyer’s men twice came close to breaking the deadlock after Clark Robertson managed to connect with two Jay Spearing corners.

First, the unmarked defender planted a header inches past the upright. Then just moments later, Robertson met another delivery only to see his effort comfortably stopped by Mark Gillespie.

The Seasiders had started well but a combination of Oztumer brilliance and poor refereeing saw Walsall take the lead in the 17th minute.

After Agyei had collected the ball on the edge of the box, Colin Daniel slid in and seemed to win the ball from the Burnley loanee.

But referee Tom Nield gave a free-kick with Oztumer then curling a fabulous strike into the top corner from 25-yards.

From that point on, the game proved an even affair with the Tangerines almost getting back on terms when Vassell burst through on goal only to see his low strike saved by the feet of Gillespie.

Walsall hit back with Oztumer almost finding the top corner yet again after another outrageous effort from just outside the box.

It was Bowyer’s men who finished the half the stronger of the two teams though.

And they almost pulled level when Delfouneso headed narrowly over after connecting with Daniel’s whipped cross.

The Tangerines continued on the front foot following the re-start and they threatened once again when Delfouneso sent a wonderful cross into the Saddlers’ six-yard-box.

The delivery looked destined to be side-footed home by Vassell but the striker got his timings wrong and completely missed the ball when he should have scored.

With his side chasing an equaliser, Bowyer made a double change just past the hour mark with Solomon-Otabor and Sessi D'Almeida introduced at the expense of Spearing and Sean Longstaff.

And the change proved a masterstroke with Solomon-Otabor pulling his side just minutes later when he cut into the box and drilled a low strike underneath Gillespie.

Suddenly the game was being played at a frantic pace with Delfouneso entering the box and firing just wide for the visitors.

Nicky Devlin then hit the byline for the Saddlers before cutting the ball back to Oztumer who drilled a strike into the side netting which half the ground though was in.

Two minutes later and Whitney’s men thought they were back in front when Guthrie rose highest to power a Joe Edwards corner into the net.

But while the player wheeled away in celebration, referee Nield surprisingly opted to disallow it with keeper Ryan Allsop claiming he had been blocked from reaching the ball.

Walsall had actually improved since conceding the equaliser and they pressed forward for a winner in an entertaining final 20 minutes.

But Blackpool stood tall to see out the game and claim a deserved point, with the Saddlers having to endure a chorus of boos at the final as well as vocal calls for Whitney to be sacked.

Key moments

3 Jay Spearing’s corner is flicked onto Clark Robertson who plants a header inches past the post.

9 Robertson meets another corner but his downward header is comfortable for Mark Gillespie.

12 Daniel Agyei's cut-back almost finds Luke Leahy but Nathan Delfouneso nips in to clear for a corner.

13 Jay Spearing's long ball finds Kyle Vassell, who cuts inside before hitting a low drive which Gillespie claims at his near post.

18 GOAL WALSALL. Erhun Oztumer curls a glorious 25-yard free-kick over the Blackpool wall and into the top corner.

20 Gillespie makes a good save with his legs to deny Vassell who was put through on goal following a long ball over the top.

30 Oztumer's left-footed effort from the edge of the box flashes just wide of the upright.

33 Jimmy Ryan's rasping free-kick goes through the Walsall wall and is beaten away by Gillespie.

43 Colin Daniels cross is met by Nathan Delfouneso but his header sails over.

45 Delfouneso's deep cross finds Callum Cooke, unmarked at the back post, but he heads straight at Gillespie.

47 Delfounseo sends the ball right across the six-yard box with Vassell somehow missing it when he should score.

49 Spearing's cross is headed over by Curtis Tilt.

65 GOAL BLACKPOOL Vassell plays a terrific pass through to Viv Solomon-Otabor, who cuts infield before firing through Gillespie.

67 Delfouneso drills wide from 20 yards.

69 Nicky Devlin’s cutback finds Oztumer in the box and he rifles the ball into the side netting.

71 GOAL DISALLOWED. Jon Guthrie's header from Edwards' corner is disallowed.

86 Tyler Roberts' right-wing cross lands on the roof of the net.

90 Oztumer curls the free-kick over the bar.

Teams

Walsall: Gillespie, Guthrie, K.Roberts, Wilson, Leahy, Devlin, Edwards, Morris, Oztumer, Bakayoko, Agyei (T. Roberts 60).

Subs not used: L. Roberts, Chambers, Kinsella, Flanagan, Donnellan, Kouyhar.

Blackpool: Allsop, Turton, Tilt, Robertson, Daniel, Ryan, Spearing (Solomon-Otabor 63), Longstaff (D’Almedia 63), Cooke, Delfouneso, Vassell (Clayton 78).

Subs not used: Williams, Mellor, Taylor, Aimson, D'Almeida, Solomon-Otabor, Clayton.

Position

League One: 16th