Walsall 1 Crewe 1 - Report

Omar Bogle opened the scoring for Crewe in the 66th minute when he crept in behind the Walsall defence to slot his finish past Tommy Simkin.

Lowe equalised for Walsall just five minutes from time when he crashed a powerful finish in off the bar for his ninth goal of the season in all competitions.

The Saddlers remain in second spot and cut the gap behind leaders Port Vale to three points after they were beaten 1-0 at Gillingham.

Club captain Donervon Daniels was handed his first competitive start of the season after Harry Williams was ruled out with concussion. 

Charlie Lakin and Jamille Matt also returned to the starting line-up with Jack Earing and Albert Adomah dropping to the bench.

Opponents Crewe made two changes from their previous league outing with Matus Holicek and Omar Bogle replacing Owen Lunt and Adrien Thibaut.

It was an even contest during the opening exchanges but Crewe had the first sight of goal when Shilow Tracey crept behind the Walsall defence and screwed a low effort wide.

Liam Gordon posed a threat with his driving runs and almost picked out Jamille Matt inside the penalty area before Connor Barrett drove a low half volley into the side netting after Crewe had failed to clear Taylor Allen's corner.

Walsall had their best period in the first period after the half-hour with Barrett providing a fruitful outlet on the right. His floated cross was nodded wide by Jamille Matt and Nathan Lowe also had a goal ruled out for a foul inside the penalty area, after the referee blew just before the Stoke City loanee poked his volleyed finish into the roof of the net.

Omar Bogle had a good chance to give the visitors the lead just before the break but the Crewe frontman headed Max Conway's perfectly flighted cross wide of the far post with Tommy Simkin rooted to the spot.

Gordon picked up the ball in space on the edge of the box and arrowed a low shot wide with his weaker foot from the edge of the box.

Walsall began to grow frustrated with a number of refereeing decisions and that anger compounded when Bogle opened the scoring midway into the second half.

Matus Holicek skipped past a couple of challenges and threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Bogle. 

The Crewe frontman broke away from the Walsall defence and tucked his finish into the far corner with the aid of the post.Mat Sadler made a quadruple change for the final 10 minutes with the introductions of Albert Adomah, Brandon Comley, George Hall and Danny Johnson.

And Birmingham loanee Hall made an immediate impact with a beautiful threaded ball into the path of Lowe. 

The teenager took the ball in his stride to escape his marker and smashed a ruthless finish past Filip Marschall and in off the bar.Tensions boiled over on a number occasions in a feisty encounter as kitman David Joyce was shown a red card after a touchline melee.  

Next, Walsall welcome League One outfit Shrewsbury Town to Bescot for their final EFL Trophy group stage fixture on Tuesday night.Teams

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; Okagbue, Daniels (c), Allen; Stirk (Comley 78); Barrett (Adomah 78), Jellis (Hall 79), Lakin (Earing 65), L Gordon; Lowe, Matt (Johnson 79).

Not used: Hornby, McEntee.

Crewe (3-5-2): Marschall; Knight-Lebel, Demetriou, Williams; Cooney, Sanders, Tabiner, Holicek (Lunt 83), Conway (Thibaut 79); Bogle (Connolly 69), Tracey (Breckin 83).

Not used: Booth, Long, Powell.Referee: Stephen ParkinsonAttendance: 8,105 (968)