Walsall 1 Cheltenham 1 - analysis

Two teams, seemingly resigned to their respective fates, lumbered around without any indication they were equipped to take victory.

The Saddlers are set for a mid-table finish, although a top-10 placing is not yet beyond them, while Cheltenham boss Martin Allen was resigned to relegation afterwards.

Both teams will be eager for the break after Saturday's mind-numbing encounter.

Yes, Frankie Artus's stunning opener would grace any stadium but sadly the following 87 minutes didn't live up to the early hype.

Michael Townsend's own goal, although Dwayne Mattis was laying claim to it, salvaged a point which was the bare minimum Walsall expected.

There will be no relaxation, it wouldn't be tolerated under manager Chris Hutchings, but there is now a distinct feeling the end of the season is nigh.

There is no doubt the home fans are already looking ahead to next season. So are the Cheltenham faithful, but for different reasons. League Two is beckoning.

But for the Saddlers there is little meaning in the final six games of a stuttering and contrasting campaign.

Although games against play-off chasing Millwall, Tranmere, Stockport and MK Dons at least give them the chance to influence the top six.

As Hutchings admitted afterwards, it will be a good marker to see how they compare – and how far they have to go.

On Saturday's evidence work is still needed, despite just two defeats from 12 games.

Unsurprisingly, after a draw against a doomed side, the boss lamented the loss of two points and rightly so.

The Saddlers were as bad as their opponents, as neither side offered much in the way of inspiration.

The 90 minutes are unlikely to stick long in the memory banks. Artus's wind-assisted strike after just three minutes was the only bright spot of a dour affair, which had all the inspiration of a wet weekend in Bognor.

In fact a wet weekend in Bognor was more appealing, as the Saddlers huffed and puffed without ever blowing the Cheltenham house down.

The visitors kept the wolf from the door and batted away the sluggish Walsall attacks.

The Saddlers lumbered forward without any real intent or threat. A half chance here and a weak shot there was all there was to offer.

The lethargy which enveloped the game was contagious. Cheltenham, desperately needing a win to prolong their futile battle against the drop, shone for the time it look Artus to open the scoring.

The midfielder, 35-yards out, looked around almost quizzically at the space he was afforded and decided not to stand on ceremony.

One wind-assisted lash of the left boot later and goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin, in for the international absentee Clayton Ince, was left red-faced and the Saddlers were behind.

Not exactly the start everyone had in mind.

The home side laboured, failing to rise from their slumber, as passes slipped out of play and lacklustre attacks broke down.

Troy Deeney should have done better when he headed at keeper Scott P Brown, ditto Mattis with a shot, as the the hosts tried to recover from being pole-axed.

Manny Smith headed over but the only issue was - and it was a big issue - they weren't doing enough to breach the worst defence in the division.

Strikers Jabo Ibehre and Deeney were unable to pierce a backline that had shipped a staggering 82 goals ahead of their Banks's Stadium visit, although they could hardly be blamed.

The service was poor with Sofiene Zaaboub and Alex Nicholls struggling to impose themselves.

The frustration was palpable and Zaaboub's blatant dive under Townsend's non-existent challenge earned the winger a rightful booking.

As Walsall toiled the half became sleep inducing. Scrappy and unimaginative, the zest from the Saddlers' previous two games had evaporated.

They needed a spark and Deeney should have provided one just 22 seconds into the second-half.

Zaaboub's sliced effort fell invitingly for the striker who, with nine goals in his previous 15 games, should have done better than direct a weak eight-yard effort straight at Brown.

The spurned chance epitomised the Saddlers on the day. Disappointing.

Still, they were the superior team. The Robins were devoid of initiative and it would take just a moment to draw level.

That moment almost arrived in the 61st minute.

Nicholls was tripped, Zaaboub stepped up and curled onto the top of the bar from 20-yards. There was a marked improvement from the first 45 minutes but not yet enough to warrant a goal.

Gilmartin had been spectator since Artus's wonder strike and the midfielder tried his luck again, with less effect, as the stopper easily gathered his low effort.

The Saddlers were struggling. They needed a slice of luck and, in the 67th minute, they got one, literally.

Chris Palmer worked an inch of space on the left and drilled in a cross which, under pressure from Mattis, Townsend sliced past the stranded Brown. Finally.

To say the Saddlers had looked like breaking through would be a bare-faced lie. Possession was followed by little substance but now they had their tails up.

Three minutes after drawing level, Ibehre had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag directed at Smith, after the defender headed Rhys Weston's cross back.

Moments later, Nicholls was denied by a truly splendid save from Brown, as the keeper sprung low to his left to keep out the winger's glancing header.

The game slumped back into its old ways, before Artus jinked his way through only to be denied by the sturdy Palmer, arriving from nowhere. It was a goal saving challenge and one which was needed.

Suddenly it all boded well for a dramatic late win.

Sadly it never materialised.

By Nick Mashiter