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Walsall 1 Villa 1 - Report and pictures

Walsall earned a deserved draw against Premier League side Aston Villa in an entertaining friendly at the Banks's Stadium.

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Boss Dean Smith can only be pleased with the way his squad coped with the test against higher level opposition and finished strongly.

A goal from Callum Robinson gave Villa a 20th minute lead, the striker having time to control the ball inside the box and fire past Neil Etheridge following Libor Kozak's cross.

But the Saddlers hit-back just before half-time, with Anthony Forde's free-kick taking a deflection before nestling into the net.

In his starting line-up, Smith named 21-year-old trialist Liam Wakefield in central defence alongside James O'Connor.

Home debuts were also given to goalkeeper Etheridge, right-back Jason Demetriou and the returning Milan Lalkovic as the Saddlers lined up in a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.

For Villa, new £9million man Idrissa Gueye started in midfield.

In front of more than 3,100 travelling fans, it was Tim Sherwood's side who registered the game's first real chance.

New boy Gueye did well to work himself space on the edge of the box, before seeing a low strike deflected just past the post.

But Walsall soon began to find their rhythm and some tidy build-up play saw Adam Chambers fire through to Jed Steer in the Villa goal.

The Saddlers were looking lively and after a swift counter-attack, Anthony Forde was just unable to play in Lalkovic who was in acres of space and unmarked on the left hand side.

Despite the match being a friendly, both sides were enjoying the combative nature of the game. But, as the half reached the midway point, Villa took the lead.

Libor Kozak's cross wasn't dealt with by O'Connor and striker Robinson had time to bring the ball down in the box, before firing past a helpless Etheridge.

Moments later and Villa should have doubled their advantage. After being played in on goal, Scott Sinclair rounded the goalkeeper but Demetriou was quickly back to clear his shot off the line.

Just before half-time though, Walsall got themselves back on level terms. Forde's free-kick from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed Steer to sail into the net.

Boss Smith made his first substitution at the break, replacing trialist Wakefield with Paul Downing.

It was Villa though who settled the quicker and they almost re-took the lead, when Sinclair danced his way into the box and cut the ball back to the onrushing Gueye.

Fortunately for Walsall, the former Manchester City star delayed his pass a second too long and the ball sailed pass Gueye allowing Downing to clear.

Walsall responded immediately, Lalkovic setting Forde off on a counter with the winger sending in a teasing ball which Tom Bradshaw was unable to direct towards goal.

The second-half was proving an even affair, but Villa almost regained the lead when fine play from Leandro Bacuna saw him race down the right and deliver a low cross, which Robinson miscued from 12 yards.

With Smith wanting to give players as many minutes as possible before the big kick off on August, 8, the boss switched Andy Taylor, Lalkovic and Sawyers for Rico Henry, Kieron Morris and Jordan Cook.

Matt Preston, Reece Flanagan, Liam Kinsella and James Baxendale where then introduced with O'Connor, Demetriou, Chambers and Forde the men to give way.

On a sunny afternoon, Bradshaw almost gave the Saddlers the lead when he took the ball into the box before hitting a snap shot wide. Cook then also fired past the post from 25-yards.

Last season's top scorer then made way for Amadou Bakayoko.

The game remained finally poised for the final 10 minutes, but neither side was able to create a real chance of note with the game deservedly ending all-square.

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