Walsall boss sees positives in draw

The Saddlers missed the chance to end their six-month home drought when Billy Paynter's 80th minute penalty, after Mark Hughes' handball, wiped out Troy Deeney's early opener.

Paynter had already hit the post with one spot-kick and somehow missed from two-yards in the second-half as the hosts ran out of steam.

But the point extends their unbeaten run to five games and boss Hutchings says they must focus on that.

He said: "It's a massive positive and you have to talk about that and not look at the downsides. We're five games unbeaten and the first 45 minutes were excellent, but we should have put the game to bed.

"The second half was a change of fortunes, we didn't want half-time to come and their manager Danny Wilson couldn't wait for it.

"It was excellent, no-one can complain about that but it's very rare unless you go and see Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea that you get 90 minutes like that."

But the Saddlers chief would not be drawn into a debate about referee David Webb, after he awarded the Robins two penalties and failed to give the hosts one of their own at the death.

Darren Byfield had tangled with Sean Morrison, but Webb ruled the offence was outside the box.

Hutchings said: "It's a tough job and when you don't get them you feel aggrieved about it. We got away with one or two but on another day we might not have done. If we had taken our chances in the first-half the game would have been over with.

"My first impression was that they were penalties. We got the wrong side but probably Hughesy's was a little bit harsh because he got a good block on and, although his hands went up, it was more the ball hitting the hands than the other way around.

"In this day and age the referees seem to give them. Down the other end he gave a free-kick outside the box because that's where the first offence occurred for shirt pulling.

"But then Darren wriggled free and then there was more contact, but it was arguable whether Morrison was the last man or not."

Robins boss Danny Wilson was more critical of Webb and claimed he wasn't sure what the official was doing all afternoon.

He said: "The referee had one of those days where you didn't know what decision he was going to make. You didn't know what he was going to do all game."

While the Robins boss was critical of his side's first-half outing he admitted his disappointment, after they wasted several good chances after the break.

He said: "When you get a game so up and down like that it could go anywhere. We've come away with something to show for our efforts in the second-half but the first-half wasn't anywhere near good enough.

"At half-time I would have taken a point straight away but, after the way we performed in the second half, I'm disappointed we didn't take the chances which presented themselves.

"Walsall caused us problems but we have to be realistic, it's a disappointment."