Walsall 0 Shrewsbury 0 - Report and pictures

In a clash that was breathtaking from start to finish, Josh Ginnelly and George Dobson both saw efforts cleared off the line for the Saddlers.

But Dean Keates’ men also missed a host of other clear-cut chances with Morgan Ferrier and Luke Leahy also going close.

Shrewsbury also had their moments. Liam Roberts made a brilliant double save to deny Oliver Norburn and Shaun Whalley late on.

Alex Gilliead also saw a shot brilliantly blocked by Jack Fitzwater just before half-time.

Incredibly though, the game ended up goalless but with Walsall coming away feeling they should have claimed all three points.

ANALYSIS

Having been beaten on home turf by Accrington Stanley on Saturday, boss Keates opted to make one change when naming his starting line-up with Andy Cook restored up front at the expense of Josh Gordon.

Otherwise the Saddlers remained unchanged with Josh Ginnelly facing his former club in a 4-4-2 formation.

For the first time this season, Shrewsbury lined up in 4-2-3-1 system with Aaron Amadi-Holloway the lone striker and Shaun Whalley in the number 10 role.

Both teams entered the derby desperate for a win and it showed in a frantic, end-to-end, start in which either side could have grabbed an early lead.

It was the visitors who threatened first with Whalley seeing a rasping low drive from the edge of the box tipped away by Liam Roberts.

Then at the other end, a sensational Zeli Ismail free-kick looked to be creeping under the crossbar.

But a diving Joel Coleman did well to get across his goal and push the ball away for a corner.

The game was showing no signs of slowing down with Whalley and Ollie Norburn looking dangerous from distance for Town.

Walsall though had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 15th minute when Ismail darted into the box before seeing a shot parried up, instead of away, by Coleman.

The ball eventually fell for Ginnelly but, from eight-yards, the winger blazed a strike over when he should have hit the target.

Overall the derby had been breathless with little separating the two teams.

But as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark, Walsall upped the tempo further with the Saddlers creating a number of glorious chances that should have lead to them taking the lead.

First, Ginnelly did well to hold the ball up for the overlapping Luke Leahy who delivered a pinpoint cross.

But leaning back, Ismail fired over at the back post when anything low and on target would have put his side ahead.

Just moments later, Shrewsbury had Anthony Grant to thank for keeping them level when George Dobson’s mazy run ended with the ball falling for Ginnelly in the box.

The former Salop man arrowed a low drive towards goal but Grant was perfectly placed to hack the ball clear from just in front of his own goal line.

Undeterred, the Saddlers continued to press with Ferrier then missing a glorious chance when unmarked - six-yards-out - he headed a perfectly placed Leahy cross wide.

From that point, Shrewsbury regained a foothold in the game and they almost grabbed the lead just before half-time.

Alex Gilliead did well to trick his way into the box before playing a one-two with Whalley.

But just as the winger let fly, Jack Fitzwater flung himself in front of the ball to block.

Walsall started the second half brightly but it was Town who should have opened the scoring in the 50th minute.

After some scrappy play in the middle of the park where neither side took control, the ball eventually broke for Amadi-Holloway who charged in the box.

And he then cut the ball back to Whalley who saw a strike from 10-yards brilliantly blocked by Leahy.

Keates’ men responded with Cook heading a Dobson free-kick into the arms of Coleman.

Incredibly, the Saddlers had their second effort cleared off the line in the 55th minute after Leahy’s ball forward allowed Ferrier to hit the byline.

The striker’s cross-come-shot was parried by Coleman with the ball then falling for Dobson.

But while the midfielder managed to get a shot on target, his effort was blocked on the line by Luke Waterfall.

For whatever reason, the Saddlers just weren’t able to score with a brilliant defence splitting pass from Dobson putting Ginnelly in.

The winger though couldn’t beat Coleman with his fierce drive beaten away by the keeper.

Keates’s men should have had the game wrapped up.

And they survived a scare as the clock ticked towards the 70 minute mark when Jon Guthrie’s loose pass was pounced on.

Whalley took the ball into the box before finding Norburn who saw a strike from eight-yards brilliantly blocked by Nicky Devlin.

A bizarre incident then occured when, following a break in play, Anthony Grant tried to kick the ball back to the Walsall keeper.

But the ball cannoned Isaiah Osbourne in the face, with the midfielder needing lengthy treatment before he was replaced by Liam Kinsella.

Walsall didn’t let the incident affect them with some find build-up play ending with Ginnelly firing over from inside the box.

Suddenly the game was more akin to a basketball match with both teams having glorious chances to claim the points.

A rapid Shrewsbury counter saw the ball fall for both Whalley and Noburn but Liam Roberts brilliantly made blocks to deny both players.

Then at the other end, Ferrier’s deep cross was met by Leahy at the back post but Coleman spread himself expertly to block his effort.

From that point both teams went in search of a winner without creating a notable chance, with a frantic game somehow ending goalless.

Walsall: Roberts, Leahy, Guthrie, Fitzwater, Devlin, Ginnelly, Osbourne (Kinsella 84), Dobson, Ismail, Cook, Ferrier.

Subs not used: Dunn, Johnson, Wilson, Kinsella, Ronan, Morris, Gordon.

Shrewsbury: Coleman, Emmanuel, Sadler, Waterfall, Beckles, Whalley, Norburn, Grant, Gilliead (Laurent 64), Amadi-Holloway, Angol.

Subs not used: Arnold, Docherty, Okenabirhie, Bolton, John-Lewis, Barnett.