Grimsby 1 Walsall 1 - Report

In what was a clash crucial to Walsall’s hopes of avoiding the bottom two places in League Two, they made a terrible start when James Hanson followed up in the box to put the hosts ahead after nine minutes.

Despite that setback the visitors reacted well in the first half and came close on a handful of occasions. Then, on the stroke of half-time a Caolan Lavery header gave Walsall a deserved equaliser.

The second half was a much quieter affair as neither side fashioned any clear-cut chances. Grimsby looked more dangerous going forward and swung in several crosses but the Saddlers defence stood firm to take home a point.

Brian Dutton made one change, starting in a 5-2-3 formation.

Sam Perry came in for Cameron Norman, while Tyreik Wright made the bench after completing his international duty.

Central midfielder Liam Kinsella made a surprise switch to right-wing-back.

Frank Vincent dropped out of the squad, but travelled to Blundell Park. Rory Holden also travelled but did not make the 18 as he completes his return from a serious knee injury.

Dan Scarr missed out due to a calf injury, while Jack Nolan again did not travel or make the squad.

Paul Hurst also made one change, starting his side in a 4-3-3 formation.

Giles Coke replaced Danny Rose, who dropped to the bench.

The game stopped almost as quickly as it started after Saddlers captain James Clarke was caught in the air by Stefan Payne in the first minute. The defender was treated on the pitch for a head injury and after a lengthy delay he was able to continue, albeit with a bloodied nose.

Walsall then made the worst possible start as Grimsby took the lead after nine minutes. Lenell John-Lewis forced Liam Roberts into a good save, when he clawed his header away, but Hanson was quickest to react as he tucked home the follow-up.

As the game approached the 20th minute the visitors had still not woken up. An ambitious bicycle kick from Josh Gordon, which trickled wide, was the team’s only opportunity in the early stages as they failed to get a foothold in the game.

Despite that, only minutes later they should have scored with several chances. First Emmanuel Osadebe had a good effort from 25 yards tipped over the bar by goalkeeper James McKeown.

From the resulting corner Tom Leak had a shot cleared off the line by Jay Matete, before Lavery was inches away from connecting with a cross at the back post.

Matete was then forced off with injury and replaced by Rose.

The game settled after the half-hour mark with the occasional chance for either side. Payne had a shot saved by Roberts, after some nice hold-up play by Hanson, before Osadebe had an effort inside the box blocked with the goal at his mercy.

John-Lewis should have scored for the Mariners when he was played into the box on the right side. As he looked to take aim he slipped at the last second and Roberts was able to collect a tame effort.

Due to Clarke’s injury at the start of the half five minutes were added on at the end of the 45 minutes and only seconds after the fourth official put down his board, Walsall found an equaliser. Gordon whipped in a delightful cross from the left and Lavery, unmarked in the box, guided the ball into the far corner with an expert header.

After a shaky start and an improved reaction to going a goal down, Walsall entered the break deservedly level at 1-1.

Callum Cockerill-Mollett replaced Max Melbourne as Walsall got the second half underway.

They almost made the perfect start, too, when a scramble in the box following a corner almost saw a Saddlers man bundle the ball over the line.

However, following that half-chance neither side was able to fashion a real effort in the opening 15 minutes of the half. The battle was embroiled in midfield with both teams vying for territory.

A bit of Grimsby pressure resulted in a forceful cross from Luke Spokes on the right and due to the weight of the cross Hanson was unable to get his head on it at the back post.

Hanson continued to cause Walsall problems in the air when he met a Rose cross at the back post, but his header back across goal was cleared. Moments later another dangerous cross came in and Payne took the ball off Hanson’s head and nodded behind.

Kinsella did well when he skipped to the byline and cut back for Lavery but the striker was leaning back and lashed his effort high over the bar.

Osadebe almost put Walsall ahead in spectacular fashion when he overhit a free-kick from 40 yards, when he was meant to cross, and saw the ball instead fly towards goal and land on the roof of the net.

In the end Walsall produced very little attacking threat in the second half, despite the improved performance overall. The Saddlers took home a point, making it 11 games without a win since Dutton took charge.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Leak, Sadler, Clarke, Melbourne (Cockerill-Mollett, 45), Sinclair, Kinsella, Perry, Osadebe, Gordon, Lavery.

Subs: Rose, Norman, Bates, Wright, McDonald, Osei Yaw.

Grimsby: McKeown, Hendrie, Hewitt, Menayese, Clifton, Coke, Matete (Rose, 29), Spokes (Williams, 73), John-Lewis (Jackson, 73), Hanson, Payne.

Subs: Battersby, Waterfall, Green, Lamy.