Analysis of Walsall 2 Orient 2

The Saddlers are an enigma, a frustrating team who constantly leave their fans puzzled. Again on Saturday, a mish-mash of a game saw them come back from the dead only to leave more questions than answers.

They are revealing and baffling in equal measure. Their strengths were evident – along with their fallibilities – but quite how they can slip so easily from wretched to confident is anyone's guess.

An abject first-half gave way to a battling second and left viewers wondering which Walsall team would turn up next. Too often this season have the Saddlers earned their spurs only to throw it away in the very next game.

At the Banks's Stadium on Saturday we saw both incarnations within the same game. They strive for consistency yet cannot demonstrate that quality within 90 minutes, and never was it more obvious than against Orient.

With respect to the Londoners they are not a team who strike fear into the opposition and are indicative of many sides in League One – hard working but nothing special. A myriad of teams should be rolled over with the minimum of fuss for anyone with play-off aspirations – and that includes the Saddlers.

A home win against an Orient side arriving on the back of four straight away defeats in the league has to be a home banker. It wasn't, and while a draw moved the hosts to within three points of the top six, the Saddlers need something extra.

They are play-off pretenders, too good for the lesser sides but just short of having the necessary qualities to really become a contender. They are an unfinished article. You are left wanting more because it is so obvious the team can give it.

That's not a dig about effort and commitment, that is never in doubt, but the Saddlers should be putting teams like Leyton Orient away. The O's arrived with just seven points from a possible 30 on the road but for 45 minutes they looked like reaching double figures.

A wretched opening saw Ryan Jarvis and Tamika Mkandawire profit from generous Walsall defending – a worrying recent trend. Against Millwall and Southampton they were undone too cheaply and that is a trait which must be rectified quickly.

You can guarantee should the Saddlers fall behind to Bristol Rovers, Norwich or Charlton in the next three games hitting back will not be so easy.

Those clubs have the quality to sustain a season-long challenge and it is they the Saddlers need to copy. An injection of experience and quality next month is needed to ensure they have the best chance of keeping in touch with the top.

They can keep pressing and will do so, never has a league been so open, but two or three bodies would be a welcome tonic. The management know this and are working on new recruits, Clayton McDonald is expected to return next month, yet we are still to see what other plans they have in store.

The current squad have boxed clever and proved to be good enough to stay with the leaders but they need help. The starting XI has hardly changed over the past two months. During this time the Saddlers have hung on the tails of the play-offs challengers but after the latest slip may be a switch is needed.

Alex Nicholls and Richard Taundry are waiting, while Steve Jones is nearing a return from the groin injury which has sidelined him for two games. With three games in a week it is perhaps time to call for reinforcements.

This time round Troy Deeney and Jamie Vincent both returned after injury and suspension for a game which survived two pitch inspections after the frost.

But the Saddlers were caught cold inside the first two minutes as Orient raced ahead. Scott McGleish escaped down the right, cut inside and when his low shot was pushed out by Clayton Ince, Jarvis was waiting to tap in.

As early Christmas gifts go it was a big one and the Saddlers struggled to fight back in a congested game which suggested it was going to be one of those days. When Stephen Purches and McGleish combined for Mkandawire to smash the loose ball home for 2-0 just before the half-hour it all but confirmed it.

Orient were dominant and Andros Townsend's shot deflected just over as the Saddlers prayed for half-time. When it came the home dressing room would not have been a comfortable place to be. No pleasantries over a couple of bottles of Lucozade and a plate of oranges, that's for sure.

But whatever was said worked as 15 seconds after the re-start Peter Till made space and Deeney rose to nod past Jamie Jones. Mark Bradley twice went close as Walsall sensed a mighty comeback and, after McGleish headed wide, the Saddlers completed their rescue effort on 57 minutes.

Again, Till was the focal point as his cross following a driving run was headed back by Darren Byfield to Deeney who found the net with the aid of deflection. It was a remarkable turnaround given the nature of the first-half, but Jarvis should have restored Orient's lead when he blazed over from point-blank range.

The striker wasn't the only hitman hanging his head in shame as Byfield missed a glorious chance after breaking free but meekly lobbed into the goalkeeper's arms. It was a golden chance and the Saddlers almost paid for the miss when Ince palmed away McGleish's late effort.

By Nick Mashiter