Stockport 1 Walsall 1

Julian Gray's second goal in two games rescued a point for 10 man Walsall at Stockport after Troy Deeney was controversially sent off in the first-half.

The striker saw red for handling Paul Huntington shot on the line after 18 minutes – allowing former Saddlers striker Jabo Ibehre to score the Hatters' first goal in 589 minutes from the spot.

At first glance it was difficult to determine whether Deeney could get out of the way, but referee Michael Oliver applied the letter of the law.

Gray smashed Walsall level two minutes after the break, but the Saddlers had to ride out heavy pressure before claiming the point.

Dwayne Mattis and Byfield returned for Josh O'Keefe and Alex Nicholls as the Saddlers looked to arrest their recent slide which had seen them fall at Southend and Exeter.

But within the first 30 seconds goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin was forced into a smart stop, when George Donnelly burst through and almost found the corner.

It was a bright start considering the hosts hadn't scored in almost 10 hours of football, but Gray had them sweating when his volley flew just wide after four minutes.

Stockport were impressing and took the lead, as Walsall conceded a second controversial penalty in two games.

The Saddlers failed to clear a corner and when the ball fell to Huntington the defender was denied by Deeney on the line, who was given a straight red card for deliberate handball.

Ibehre stepped up and buried the penalty but, despite ending County's long goal drought, pointedly didn't celebrate against his former club.

Byfield could have hauled the visitors level on 25 minutes after seizing onto Danny Swailes' mistake, but goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams' block foiled him.

Gilmartin then produced an even better stop saving James Vincent's effort, when it seemed the Hatters were about to double their lead.

But, despite the miss, Stockport were comfortable as their 10-man opponents struggled to half-time and the sanctity of the dressing room.

Whatever was said at the break worked wonders, as Gray smashed in a volley at the far post two minutes into the second-half after Stockport failed to deal with Jamie Vincent's free kick.

But Richie Partridge fired over, Ibehre and Johnson hit wide and Gilmartin saved from Paul Turnbull as County pressed.

Understandably, the Saddlers were struggling to pose a real threat going forward but had defended stoutly.

Gilmartin denied Johnson again and Swailes powered a header wide in stoppage time, before Ibehre somehow missed the target from six yards.