Walsall played out an entertaining 0-0 draw against Preston North End, in a game where on another day, we might have ran out comfortable winners.
The Saddlers stepped out onto a pretty overcast Deepdale looking to make it three straight league wins and the game began lively with early chances at both ends.
The first notable effort came from the returning Jon Macken, but his shot was always rising into the stand. Preston then hit back when Chris Holroyd got on the end of a dangerous cross, but his header fell just wide. In the 10th minute, after some neat passing through the midfield, Jamie Paterson hit a low shot past Thorsten Stuckmann's right hand post. The early signs looked good for the Saddlers as we began to get to grips with Preston's physical presence.
Minutes later, after some sloppy Preston defending, Will Grigg broke clear on the left hand side but his low cross evaded everyone and no one was able to get on the end of it at the far post. Then, a loose ball on Preston's left hand side was chased down by Richard Taundry and Adam Barton. After a 50/50 challenge on the touchline, Barton was left in a heap on the floor with the referee calling frantically for the physio. After a ten minute delay, the game was back underway after what looked like a serious injury to the midfielder.
In the 30th minute, after the restart, Grigg found himself clear again, setting up Paterson who's snapshot went low past the keeper who appeared to have it covered.
The game started to open up and a flurry of chances at either end finished off the first half. David Grof made a fantastic fingertip save to deny striker Graham Cummins' header from a corner, ensuring we went in level at the break.
The second half started with an in-swinging Hurst cross which found an unmarked Grigg, but he couldn't quite direct the ball goalwards much to the frustration of the travelling fans. Buoyed by this, the Saddlers again went in search of a breakthrough, the impressive Flo Cuvelier broke away from the slow reacting back four only to place his shot wide of the goal. It was the chance of the game, with the away end on their feet thinking it was in.
After more patient pressing from the Saddlers, two corners brought half chances, but we still couldn't find a way through. Grigg then made way for Nicholls as Smith looked to go for the win. After some half chances for Preston at the other end, the ball was soon back down by the Walsall fans only to see it hit the top of the bar after a clever attempt from the lively Paterson.
A Hurst free kick in a good position a minute later, after Macken was held by the former Walsall defender Aaron Brown, came to nothing. As the game came to a close, both teams went for it. A Preston corner was misjudged by Grof but he was let off after the ball rolled past his left hand post much to everyones relief. George Bowerman was then introduced for the remainder of the game in place of Kevan Hurst and he was straight away involved when he ran down the right hand side but found his low cross fall to a Preston defender who eventually cleared. As Walsall looked for a late winner, a short free kick was layed into the path of Taundry who's driven shot was blocked by the home sides resolute defence. It would be the last meaningful attack of the game as it eventually died out.
It was desperately unlucky for the Saddlers. It looked as though it could have been our day at the start but a point away from home is better than nothing. The effort from the team all afternoon was to be applauded and the fans certainly did just that. It capped off a good week for the Saddlers as we face another tough trip to Leyton Orient next weekend.
Result: Preston North End 0 Walsall 0
Attendance: 11,091
By: Jack Hansford