Walsall were looking to make it three wins on the bounce as they made their way to the Wham Stadium and took on Accrington Stanley on Saturday afternoon.Walsall began the game brightly, creating the first chance to open the scoring just four minutes into the contest, as Ryan Stirk worked his way into space before playing the ball through for Liam Gordon, whose effort on goal sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
The Saddlers continued to look the brighter of the two sides as the game continued, with Taylor Allen firing goal-wards from distance, in the eighth minute, but Accrington shot-stopper, William Crellin, was alert to the danger and got down well to make the save.
Accrington grew into the contest as it it continued, winning a corner in the sixteenth minute, as Connor Barrett blocked a Tyler Walton effort. The cross in from the flag-kick was cleared by Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, though the hosts were quick to work the ball back into the danger zone, but the promising move ended with captain, Farrend Rawson heading wide.
Walsall went close to opening the scoring at the other end, in the twenty-second minute, as a Jamie Jellis effort on goal was spilled by Crellin, but the Accrington 'keeper didn't panic and gathered at the second time of asking, just ahead of Nathan Lowe who was looking to poke the loose ball home.
The hosts soon had the ball back in the Walsall area, as Jake Batty crossed a low ball in for Walton, but Simkin was alert to the danger and got to the ball ahead of the striker to ensure he was unable to put an effort in on goal.
Both sides enjoyed good spells on the ball as the game continued, though neither were able to create much to really test their opposition.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the thirty-sixth minute, allowing Simkin to receive attention from the medical team. Fortunately, he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Walsall won a corner late in the first-half, as Walton turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it as Allen's ball in was cleared by the hosts.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Accrington got the action back underway. It was short lived though, as Rawson went down just two minutes after the restart, bringing a pause to play whilst he received treatment from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
Accrington began the second-half brightly, with a long throw from Batty, in the fifty-first minute, falling to Sonny Aljofree, whose shot at the back post was well saved by an alert Simkin.
Donald Love became the first player to see his name taken by the referee, in the fifty-fourth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Lowe.
The resulting free-kick saw Jellis fire a powerful strike goal-wards, which Crellin cleared but only as far as Lowe, who headed the rebound over the crossbar.
Walsall continued to press, with Barrett crossing the ball into the path of Allen, in the fifty-ninth minute, but the defenders headed effort lacked power and was easily gathered by Crellin.
Accrington had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where a cross from Batty was collected by Dara Costelloe, whose effort from the centre of the box sailed narrowly wide of the near post.
Walsall opted to make their first change of the afternoon, in the sixty-sixth minute, with Charlie Lakin making way for Jack Earing.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, and with seventy-two minutes on the clock, Accrington chose to make their first substitution, as Alex Henderson was replaced by Jimmy Knowles.
There was little action of note during the ten minutes which followed, as the sides cancelled each other out, though ten minutes from time, Earing picked out Lowe with a cross, but the striker was unable to beat Crellin with his effort on goal.
Six minutes from time, Walsall chose to make their second change of the afternoon, with Nathan Lowe making way for Danny Johnson.
Accrington followed suit just two minutes later, replacing Dara Costelloe with Josh Woods for the final few minutes of the game.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Barrett pulled the ball back for Johnson, whose effort on goal was deflected wide of the post, with the resulting corner was played in by Allen for Jamille Matt, whose headed effort was deflected over with flag-kick which followed coming to nothing.
That would be the final action of note, and the referee called time on the contest with the sides each taking one point from the encounter. A disappointing result for the Saddlers, who failed to make the most of any of the chances which fell their way.
| AT | WHAM STADIUM |
| REFEREE | SCOTT TALLIS |