Walsall returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they looked to build upon last weekend's FA Cup triumph over Bolton Wanderers by taking care of Crewe Alexandra.Following a minute of silence to remember the fallen, Crewe got the match underway. Walsall won the first corner of the game just five minutes in, as Mickey Demetriou put the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The visiting side created their first chance of the afternoon moments later, as Omar Bogle played the ball through for Shilow Tracey, at the other end, but the strikers effort sailed inches wide of the upright.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, with Nathan Lowe picking out Charlie Lakin with a cross, but the number eight saw his effort from outside the box blocked. The hosts continued to press, with Liam Gordon launching a long run forwards to work the ball back into the danger zone, but Lakin mistimed his run, meaning nothing could come of the move as he was caught in an offside position.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, Crewe were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, as Joel Tabiner was fouled by David Okagbue, but nothing would come of the set-piece as the Saddlers cleared the danger.
With twenty minutes on the clock, Max Sanders became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Lowe.
Things settled a little as the game continued, but Walsall won a corner in the twenty-seventh minute, as Tabiner turned the ball out of play. The initial ball in was cleared by Crewe 'keeper, Filip Marschall, but only as far as Connor Barrett, whose low strike missed the target by a matter of inches.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the moments that followed, allowing the Crewe shot-stopper to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a good spell, and went close again in the thirty-third minute, as Barrett crossed the ball in for Jamille Matt, who rose highest, but the strikers downward header missed the target, sailing wide of the upright.
Walsall could have opened the scoring just two minutes later, and did have the ball in the back of the net, as Lowe fired home, but a foul inside the area in the build-up meant the goal would be disallowed.
David Okagbue joined Sanders in the referee's notebook, in the fortieth minute, as he was cautioned for a foul.
The visiting side went close to opening the scoring from the resulting free-kick, as Max Conway crossed the ball towards the back post, where Bogle was waiting, but the forwards header back across goal sailed narrowly wide.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the action back underway. The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, going close just two minutes after the restart, as Ryan Stirk crossed the ball to Gordon on the edge of the area, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide of the upright.
The hosts continued to press, with Taylor Allen crossing into the box for Jamie Jellis, in the fifty-second minute, but Crewe were able to clear his effort.
There was a break in play, in the fifty-fifth minute, allowing Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Jamille Matt joined those already playing on a caution, in the sixty-third minute, as he shown the yellow card following a foul on Mickey Demetriou.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Walsall opted to make their first change of the afternoon, with Charlie Lakin making way for Jack Earing.
Crewe found the breakthrough in the sixty-sixth minute, as Matúš Holíček played the ball through into the path of Bogle, who fired in off the post to give his side the lead.
That would prove to be Omar Bogle's final involvement of note for the afternoon, as he was replaced by James Connolly in the seventieth minute.
Walsall looked to level the scores in the seventy-third minute, with Jellis crossing the ball into the box for Matt, who was unable to get a proper shot away, but the Saddlers kept the move alive with Barrett picking up the loose ball and firing over.
Ryan Cooney saw yellow in the seventy-fifth minute, as he was cautioned for time wasting.
Shilow Tracey joined him in the referee's notebook just two minutes later, as a foul on Allen saw the striker booked.
Walsall opted to make their four remaining substitutions in the seventy-ninth minute, with Ryan Stirk, Connor Barrett, Jamie Jellis and Jamille Matt all departing, as their places were filled by Brandon Comley, Albert Adomah, George Hall and Danny Johnson.
Crewe also took the opportunity to make a further change to their line-up, with Max Conway making way for Adrien Thibaut.
The Walsall substitutes looked to make an immediate impact, but Adomah's cross for Johnson was headed over the crossbar by the striker.
The visiting side chose to make two additional changes just four minutes after the last, with Matúš Holíček and Shilow Tracey being replaced by Owen Lunt and Kian Breckin.
Five minutes from time, the Walsall substitutes made an impact, as Hall threaded the ball through for Lowe, who beat his man and fired the ball in off the bar to level the scores.
Both Taylor Allen and Adrien Thibaut joined those already playing on a caution, two minutes from time, as they were cautioned for dissent.
Ten additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Lowe looked to add to his tally, as he curled an effort in from the edge of the area, but Marschall was well positioned to make the save to deny him.
Late into added time, Walsall kitman, Dave Joyce, was shown the red card and Lee Bell saw yellow as tempers frayed on the sidelines.
Liam Gordon was also shown a late yellow card, after getting involved in an argument.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to it's conclusion with the sides each taking one point from the contest.
| LOWE (85') | BOGLE (66') |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | STEPHEN PARKINSON |