Walsall 1 Crewe 1 - Report and pictures

Dominant Walsall were forced to make do with just a point as Crewe came away from the Banks's Stadium with a 1-1 draw.

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Tom Bradshaw's eighth goal of the season put them ahead inside three minutes, with the forward powerfully heading home Anthony Forde's corner.

Crewe got back on level terms against the run of play, when defender Ben Nugent rifled home an unstoppable 25-yard drive.

But the Saddlers went on to dominate the game with Jason Demetriou hitting the crossbar and the likes of Jordan Cook, Kieron Morris, Forde and Bradshaw all missing good chances.

Walsall were handed a big boost before kick-off, with Bradshaw given the nod to start up front after recovering from a groin strain.

It meant ooss Dean Smith made three changes from the side that lost against Chelsea on Wednesday, with Andy Taylor and Anthony Forde also restored to the starting line-up.

Jordan Cook, Kieron Morris and Rico Henry were the men to make way as the Saddlers boss plumped for a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Smith's decision to start Bradshaw was rewarded from the get-go with Walsall taking the lead inside three minutes.

Despite being one of the most feared strikers in the division, the Welshman was left completely unmarked at a corner and he powerfully headed home Forde's whipped in delivery.

The Saddlers were seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages, but Crewe got themselves back on level terms just before the 20 minute mark.

A Crewe free-kick was only half cleared allowing Lauri Dalla Valle to cushion the ball into the path of centre-back Ben Nugent, who fired home a stunning low drive from 25-yards.

Walsall immediately went on the hunt to restore their lead, with a lovely through-ball from Sam Mantom sending Jason Demetriou galloping away down the right-flank.

The full-back's teasing low cross looked to pick out Bradshaw at the back post, but defender Harry Davis expertly slid in to clear the ball for a corner.

Smith's side were piling forward at will and they came a whisker away from restoring their lead, when Ryan Colclough lost his footing and the ball on the edge of his own box.

Bradshaw took over, taking the ball into the area before hitting a powerful drive inches past the post. Steve Davis' side were looking to soak up pressure and hit Walsall on the counter.

They came close to an unlikely lead when, after forcing a corner, Chris Atkinson headed onto the roof of the net.

Undeterred, the Saddlers continued to press with Mantom seeing two strikes from distance both saved by goalkeeper Ben Garratt following fine build-up play.

Then, with just minutes of the half remaining, Milan Lalkovic thought he had got his side back in front when he cut inside the box and curled a strike just past the far post.

The Saddlers continued where they left off after the re-start, with Bradshaw almost on target again in the opening stages.

A hopeful ball into the box was knocked across the six-yard box by Demetriou, with Bradshaw getting ahead of his marker to glance a header towards goal.

The striker's faintest of touches looked to be creeping into the far corner, but Garratt scrambled across his goal to push the ball for a corner.

Moments later though and Saddlers' fans had their hearts in the mouths when Brad Inman carried the ball into the box.

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Skipper Adam Chambers slide in with a late challenge which saw the striker tumble to the floor. But, despite wild protests from Crewe's players and fans, referee James Linington waved play on.

Crewe were trying to show more invention as the game past the hour mark, but it was still Smith's side enjoying the lion's share of possession.

Yet the away side should have taken the lead when Colclough's cross bobbled around the box and fell kindly for Adam King.

The midfielder, who was well placed, had time to steady himself but badly miss-cued his shot allowing the ball to sail through to goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

With boss Smith bellowing orders from the touchline, Walsall went back on the offensive and had two golden chances to regain the lead. First, Chambers headed a fine Demetriou cross wide from eight-yards.

Then a ball into the box was headed goalwards by Bradshaw, with Forde getting the faintest of touches but just unable to divert the ball past Garratt.

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Walsall were now coming forward in wave after wave of attacks with Smith opting to introduce Jordan Cook and Kieron Morris for Lalkovic and Forde in a bid to inject some fresh legs.

And the move looked to be an inspired one, with Demetriou rattling the crossbar minutes later with a fierce left-footer drive from 20-yards.

The game was now entirely one way traffic with Bradshaw bursting into the box and seeing a shot blocked before Cook collected the rebound only for his effort to be spectacularly stopped by Garratt.

Morris then picked the ball up in his own half, before going on a darting run and hitting a low drive which was well claimed.

The young winger was doing everything he could to get his side back in front and his fierce drive from 25-yards forced Garrett into a sprawling one-hand save.

Walsall continued to pile forward in numbers and, with three minutes of stoppage time, should have wrapped up the points.

Romaine Sawyers' cross was only half cleared to Mantom who sent the ball back into the box.

The midfielder's header seemed to fall perfectly for Bradshaw but the striker lashed a half-volley over the bar to sum up it wasn't going to be Walsall's day.