Walsall 1 Stevenage 1 - Report

The hosts dominated the early possession and had several half-chances that failed to materialise.

After failing to take a deserved first half lead, Walsall were once again undone by poor individual errors. Within the first five minutes of the second half Emmanuel Osadebe played a short back pass and as Jack Rose - who came into the team for his first league start of the season - attempted to clear the ball he brought down Tom Pett.

Former Saddlers loanee Aramide Oteh then put his side ahead.

Walsall pushed for an equaliser throughout the second half and finally found it in the 90th minute when Gordon was fouled in the box by Scott Cuthbert. The striker got up off the grass to tuck it home.

Darrell Clarke made two changes to the side that drew with Newport County last time out, sticking with the 4-5-1 formation.

Rory Holden was suspended and missed the game, while goalkeeper Liam Roberts was dropped for his mistake in South Wales and replaced by Rose.

The extra space on the bench was occupied by Gordon, making his first Saddlers squad since he suffered a medial knee injury on October 10.

Alex Revell made four changes to the side that beat Hull City in the FA Cup on Sunday, but named the same starting XI that beat Port Vale in their last League Two game.

Using a 4-1-2-1-2 formation with a diamond in midfield, former Walsall loanee Oteh started up front.

Former Walsall academy player Remeao Hutton also started for Stevenage.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors after seven minutes when Danny Newton found himself with space on the edge of the box. His shot was blocked.

As the game approached the 15th minute the Saddlers began to see some joy with the ball. Some nice passing phases of play almost ended with a strong chance, while set pieces caused some worry in the Boro box.

Elijah Adebayo should have done better when he lifted a shot over the bar from inside the box. The chance came from some good feet and cross from Zak Jules.

Another chance fell to the home side when Jake Scrimshaw directed a tame effort wide. The ball fell to him in the box from a Wes McDonald effort.

McDonald should have scored when a Cameron Norman cross was punched straight to the winger by goalkeeper Jamie Cumming. McDonald, however, shot wide.

Despite having the best chances of the half the hosts failed to score and take advantage of their domination over the opposition. The sides entered the break drawing 0-0.

The second half started in the worst possible fashion for Walsall. Osadebe hung onto the ball for too long in his own box and then played a woefully short back pass. Rose came to claim and took out Pett in the process.

Oteh stepped up for the penalty five minutes into the second half and confidently smashed it home.

In the 59th minute Walsall made a quadruple change as four substitutes were introduced. Adebayo, Scrimshaw, Osadebe and Alfie Bates all came off as Gordon, Caolan Lavery, Jack Nolan and Danny Guthrie were introduced.

The change meant Walsall moved to a 4-4-2 formation as they searched for an equaliser.

Gordon almost scored a wonderful goal on his return to the team when met a McDonald cross at the near post and his skillful flick was saved by Cumming.

The game ticked beyond the 70th minute and while Stevenage were not threatening going forward, the hosts huffed and puffed as they desperately tried to create something meaningful. Too many long balls, however, resulted in lost possession.

Kinsella then put his body on the line to block a shot from Charlie Carter. A run from Newton created the opening for the midfielder.

Minutes later Carter had another effort blocked before his rebound was deflected wide.

Cuthbert was inches away from doubling Stevenage’s lead when he rose highest at a corner and his header sailed just beyond the far post.

McDonald did superbly well to get to the byline and deliver a low cross but no player in red was equal to it.

Despite seeing most of the ball, the Saddlers were struggling to create chances. This was compounded by a Norman counter-attack that came to nothing when the full-back launched a ball forward straight into the arms of Cumming.

Two strong penalty calls came and went when Norman was seemingly fouled twice in the box, but as the game ticked into extra time a spot-kick was finally awarded.

Gordon was fouled and stepped up to take it, clipping the crossbar as he equalised.

Walsall searched for a winner in the closing stages but couldn’t find it as the sides shared the points.

Teams

Walsall: Rose, Norman, Scarr, Clarke, Jules, Bates (Guthrie, 59), Kinsella, Osadebe (Nolan, 59), McDonald, Scrimshaw (Lavery, 59), Adebayo (Gordon, 59).

Subs not used: Roberts, White, Sinclair.

Stevenage: Cumming, James-Wildin, Cuthbert, Prosser, Hutton, Vincelot, Smith, Carter (Coker, 85), Pett, Oteh (List, 65), Newton.

Subs not used: Johnson, Marsh, Vancooten, Iontton, Read.