Dean Smith deflated by point for Walsall

Manager Dean Smith admitted Walsall's draw at Peterborough felt more like a defeat after Michael Bostwick's late penalty.

An outstanding second-half strike from Romaine Sawyers put the Saddlers ahead, before Bostwick's 87th minute spot-kick.

But it was Jermaine Anderson's 84th minute red card that was the real talking point, with the midfielder dismissed for throwing a water bottle into the home crowd.

That lead to a cauldron like atmosphere inside London Road, with a visibly riled Peterborough then going on to win the penalty.

Smith said: "It feels like a defeat, how we haven't won that I don't know. We took the lead with a great strike and were in control of the game.

"The lad gets sent off, I feel sorry for him but you can't do that. He didn't mean to do it he has just flung the bottle into the crowd and that could take someone's eye out.

[related_posts title="More on Walsall"]

"It's not great but it was right decision. However, that triggered the events which then went on to happen."

Smith felt without the bizarre dismissal, Walsall would have gone onto win the game. He said: "I do feel that way. because we were very comfortable.

"It got everybody irate, the staff the fans. They felt their had been an injustice. I saw what happened, he had a bottle of water but the officials are always telling us not to throw bottles.

"I think it was just the force he threw it, it certainly flew in there. It was in their own fans, he's not going to do it on purpose but the rules are the rules."

The Saddlers boss also wasn't happy with the penalty decision, saying: "They have got in the box and to be fair to the referee he couldn't be in a better position.

"But our goalkeeper, Neil Cutler, has given the lad the opportunity to go down and the lad has took it because I don't think there was too much contact to be honest.

"Outside the penalty box, that wouldn't have been given."