Walsall 1 Charlton 1 - analysis

Home is where the heartache is and now Walsall are moving in ever decreasing circles.

Seven winless games have stuck a knife straight through any play-off hopes as the Saddlers' home form stutters just when they need it most.

It's not for the want of trying but the hard luck stories at the Banks's Stadium since their last triumph in November need to turn into fairytales if any dreams are to be realised this season.

With ranks closed up behind them and the top six streaking away, the window of opportunity is becoming smaller by the game.

They remain 13^th in League One after last night's 1-1 draw with Charlton and the sensation the Saddlers are treading water is one which cannot be ignored.

Yes, they have games in hand and are a better team than recent results suggest but three points against a stuttering Bristol Rovers on Saturday is fast becoming a must.

Their last four games have yielded just two points but even that doesn't tell the whole story.

Their battling performances are going unrewarded and they can't even catch a break at home.

There is no doubt they deserved a point against the distinctly average Addicks and could have taken all three if it weren't for referee Andy Haines.

Quite what planet the Tyne and Weir official was on is open for debate but he was, quite frankly, the worst official witnessed this season.

He handed Charlton their equaliser in first half injury time after Therry Racon's passable impression of an Olympic gymnast over Jamie Vincent's leg.

And Haines displayed all the common sense customary with 'professional' referees by dismissing Troy Deeney 13 minutes from time.

Rather than give Deeney a warning – a courtesy afforded to others on the night – he sent the Walsall man off for what was merely a tangle of legs with Kyel Reid.

Granted, Deeney talked himself into the book for his first yellow as he disputed Charlton's penalty, but Haines' decision robs the Saddlers of their 10-goal top scorer for Saturday's visit of Rovers.

Without the right to appeal it hands a chance to Alex Nicholls or Sam Parkin to return to a side which saw two changes last night.

Boss Chris Hutchings has kept faith with his men wherever possible but shuffled his pack with the arrival of Richard Taundry for Mark Bradley.

The Wales Under-21 international, for all his commitment, was the unfortunate man of the midfield four who failed to fire at Gillingham in their previous outing.

Walsall have been crying out for the industry and ingenuity of Taundry since he suffered a second hamstring injury in October and his performance reminded everyone what they were missing.

His team-mates have affectionately nicknamed him 'Taz' after the Tasmanian Devil who never stops – what the Saddlers could do with another one or two of those little devils.

Hutchings was also forced into a defensive switch with Manny Smith suffering thigh injury – allowing Netan Sansara another chance with Vincent moving inside to partner Clayton McDonald.

And they had to contend with another shuffle eight minutes in when Rhys Weston limped out to be replaced by Darryl Westlake.

It was a defensive setback they could ill afford with Smith out and skipper Mark Hughes still not match fit following an ankle injury and a virus.

And Charlton looked to take advantage, pumping a number of balls into the Saddlers' danger area – crosses which were swiftly rebuffed.

The early pressure from the Addicks quickly faded but midway through the first half Clayton Ince inexplicably picked up Westlake's backpass and was lucky to see Reid's 17-yard free kick blocked.

It was a rare flashpoint in the contest which had barely fired before Rob Elliott fumbled Matt Richards' shot behind on 31 minutes.

And from the resulting corner the ball eventually fell to Westlake who clipped a cross back in for Deeney to plant a glorious header into the bottom corner.

It was the first moment of true quality and the Saddlers had something to defend.

Previous they had blown winning positions against the Norwich and Leeds, the top two, and the pattern threatened to return against the third placed side as the game edged towards the interval.

Akpo Sodje's shot hit the inside of the post and flew across the face of goal before, in first half injury time, the Addicks equalised in controversial style.

Nicky Bailey played a short corner to Racon and when the midfield fell under Vincent's challenge Haines pointed to the spot.

Deon Burton drilled in from 12-yards to leave the Saddlers incensed – and their mood didn't improve after Haines turned down Darren Byfield's large penalty appeals a minute after the break.

Hurt by the nature of the equaliser, Walsall pushed for a second and Deeney blazed over from 18-yards.

Ince tipped Akpo Sodje's header over as Charlton hit back and the striker then slide wide at the far post as the Saddlers switched off.

The Addicks were now making the running as they desperately tried to get their season back on track after falling five points off the automatic promotion spots.

In turn, the Saddlers needed to reignite their campaign but their hopes were hit when Deeney was harshly sent off.

Already booked for protesting Charlton's first half penalty the striker clipped the flying Reid but, instead of giving Deeney a warning, referee Haines produced a second yellow.

It was the striker's first red card of his career and all but ended Walsall's hopes of claiming a win.

Down to 10 men the Saddlers were nullified with Byfield isolated by the lack of support as the hosts fought to hold onto the point their performance deserved.

Alex Nicholls scuffed one straight at Elliott from 25-yards before Bailey smashed a free kick into the wall in the sixth minute of injury time.

By Nick Mashiter.