Crawley Town 1-1 Walsall - report: Saddlers settle for a point on the road
Walsall came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium and extended their unbeaten run to eight games in League Two.
Myles Roberts denied Harry McKirdy from the spot after five minutes, but Crawley went ahead through a header from Ryan Loft in the 32nd-minute.
League leaders Walsall recovered after the break and restored parity eight minutes after the restart when Connor Barrett picked out the top corner with an excellent strike from just outside the box.
Daniel Kanu started despite being a doubt ahead of the weekend, as Walsall made four changes to the team which beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 at Bescot last weekend.
Rico Browne, Brandon Comley, Jamie Jellis and Courtney Clarke came in, replacing Harrison Burke, Lewis Warrington, Ryan Finnigan and Vincent Harper.
Aaron Pressley saw his side-footed strike from distance expertly tipped on to the crossbar inside the first 60 seconds, before Myles Roberts turned hero at the other end when he plunged to his left to keep out McKirdy's penalty kick.
Crawley carried the greater attacking threat during the opening exchanges and Dion Pereira created a good chance for himself when he drifted inside and blazed over from the edge of the box.
Browne prevented McKirdy from profiting on a tidy reverse pass by Pereira when he shifted across to make a crucial block.
Then, Aden Flint made an equally key intervention just minutes later when Kabby Tshimanga collected a high ball in behind, but the experienced defender was in the way on his 600th career appearance.
Crawley took the lead just past the half-hour mark when Loft rose unmarked at the back post to cushion his header into the bottom corner from McKirdy's cross.
Barrett got Walsall back on level terms eight minutes after the restart with his third goal of the season. He drifted inside from the right and unleashed a powerful strike beyond the reach of Joe Wollacott and into the far corner.
Crawley had two chances in quick succession, as they came agonisingly close to immediately restoring their lead. Malone had a dinked effort clawed away by Roberts, who went on to smother McKirdy's close-range finish, before Evan Weir cleared the follow-up off the line.
Kanu came close to giving the Saddlers the lead just past the hour. Clarke's long throw went all the way through to the back post where Wollacott got down to keep out Kanu's half-volley at his near post.
Sadler introduced Ryan Finnigan and Albert Adomah, and later Rico Richards and Jid Okeke, but they were unable to find a winner, as they settled for a point.
Teams
Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Browne, A Flint (c), Weir; Comley (Finnigan 71); Barrett, Jellis (Richards 78), Lakin (Okeke 78), Clarke (Farquharson 88); Pressley, Kanu (Adomah 71).
Not used: Hornby, Matt.
Crawley (3-5-2): Wollacott; Barker, Conroy, J Flint; Pereira (Forster 75), Holohan, Anderson, Malone, McKirdy (Flower 89); Loft, Tshimanga (Watson 80).
Not used: Brown, Radcliffe, Showumni.
Other Details
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 3,461 (505)
