A boxing day fixture for The Saddlers, something that hasn't happened for a couple of seasons. Walsall started against heavily favoured promotion candidates Sheffield Wednesday seemingly determined to take the game to the opposition.
In a half that was quite devoid of either keeper facing a test, The Saddlers back four proved strong, with Lee Beevers looking particularly controlled and consistent.
Jamie Paterson looked exciting and willing to attempt to run at the Wednesday defence but without any real luck whilst Mr opinion-splitter himself Richard Taundry looked quite solid, playing out on the right of midfield, providing a decent option between defence and attack.
Walsall hit a couple of pot-shots and Wednesday attempted a couple of poor crosses, which summed up a first half which could easily fit the category of midfield battle.
Half Time: Walsall 0 Sheffield Wednesday 0
The second half began, Sheffield Wednesday started brightly, a curling effort screwed just wide within the first minute.
As Walsall battled back in, youngster Jamie Paterson crashed an effort against the bar from outside the area.
The larger than usual Saddlers crowd suffered heartbreak in the 58th minute as a Wednesday man flew down the wing, and delivered a sublime cross for Ryan Lowe to head in the opening goal.
The game began to turn ugly with a corner of the ground seeing Wednesday fans and Saddlers fans attempting to get to each other, and a little bit of handbags on the pitch heating up the atmosphere, both of which calmed down quickly.
Jimmy Walker was forced into a good stop from O'Grady from which he had to scramble to recover the follow up, before Macken fired over a volley. Walsall battling forward but not actually threatening.
Richard Taundry and Jamie Paterson both of whom put in good shifts, were then replaced by Gnakpa and Bowerman.
Walsall pushed and pushed having a couple of tame efforts at goal with Bowerman looking bright, before the fourth official announced five minutes of stoppage time.
Just into stoppage time Claude Gnakpa cut inside and showed good strength to get into position and rifle in a deflected equaliser from 20 yards!
Walsall continued to press, forcing Wednesday into a few mistakes, before unbelievably a cross was floated into the Wednesday area and Manny Smith snook in to head in a dramatic winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time!
Andy Halliday had just enough time to replace Jon Macken before the final whistle blew.
Full Time: Walsall 2 (Gnakpa 90', Smith 90+4) Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Lowe 60')
A fantastic battling performance from the Saddlers, a game in which for a change Walsall fully deserved at least a point from the game, but to grab the three points right at the end, in front of our largest crowd of the season was brilliant.
Surely a result now against fellow struggler's Rochdale on Saturday is a must?
By: Lee Hale