Analysis: Another opportunity missed for Walsall in Gillingham stalemate

Just as the 1-1 draw at Carlisle United and the 2-2 draw at Cheltenham Town did too. 

In reality, Walsall are beginning to pick up points but they're leaving plenty behind as well, with Bradford City cutting the gap at the summit to just a single point. 

Mat Sadler spoke about his desire to translate draws into wins but a lack of cutting edge in attack ultimately saw them serve up a fourth successive stalemate on the road. 

Only opponents Gillingham and Crewe Alexandra (both seven) have registered more draws than the Saddlers' tally of six since the turn of the year. 

And the lack of wins (just two from the last 13) has done little to ease the nerves heading into a season-defining run of fixtures against AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale respectively. 

Walsall did produce one of their best performances out of possession for some time. They defended solidly and were organised and disciplined across midfield. 

After a tentative start, Nathan Asiimwe impressed on his first Walsall start and debutant Alfie Chang looked a handful during his late cameo from the bench. 

Sadler made five changes in total. Harry Williams returned to the defence, Ryan Stirk and Charlie Lakin were recalled to midfield and Albert Adomah was given the nod in attack. 

It was a strong line-up considering five players were away on international duty, Connor Barrett was suspended and Ellis Harrison was missing with a hamstring injury. 

But the draw also served as another example of why Sadler's persistence to deploy Adomah as a makeshift striker does not work. 

Jamille Matt and Levi Amantchi, who both scored at Bromley the previous week, struck up a promising partnership at Hayes Lane. 

It felt like the prime time to hand Amantchi his first start and it was perhaps the only call the Walsall boss got wrong in his XI. 

Walsall failed to take the few opportunities they did create and the lack of quality in the final third was surprising considering chief creator Taylor Allen played further forward. 

But Allen had one of his quieter afternoons at wing-back, with the attacking threat instead coming from the right. 

Asiimwe set-up the best chance of the game when he scooped an inviting cross into the box for Matt. Climbing highest, Matt placed his header low towards the right corner but Glenn Morris reacted superbly to claw his effort away. 

That was not the first time Matt had been denied by the Gillingham goalkeeper. He had got the ball stuck underneath his feet when fed into the box by Adomah earlier in the half and Morris bravely smothered his finish. Jamie Jellis was denied on the follow-up as another chance went begging. 

But at the other end, Walsall reduced Gillingham to very little from open play. Oisin McEntee read the game well, Evan Weir looked solid again and Harry Williams recovered from a nervy first five minutes to contribute to a sturdy defensive display. 

Sam Hornby also played his part, producing a vital late save to prevent Elliott Nevitt from stealing all three points. 

The 30-year-old kept only Walsall's second clean sheet of the calendar year and his performance has left Sadler with a decision to make ahead of Wimbledon on Saturday. 

Charlie Lakin came close when his audacious 35-yard lob from the left touchline dipped dangerously towards goal. Williams poked a volley over and substitute Chang curled wide in stoppage time but Walsall failed to find a breakthrough. 

The gap between Walsall and fourth spot remains at six points but they had an ideal opportunity to put further daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. 

Instead, third-placed Wimbledon have the chance to move to within three points of Walsall when they visit Bescot. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Port Vale are level on points with the Wombles and boast a game in hand. 

There were positives to take from the draw but Walsall hardly head into the final eight games with a great deal of momentum. 

Only Cheltenham and Notts County (both two) have picked up fewer points than them (three) over the past five games. 

More on that, only Morecambe and Salford (both 10) have accumulated less during the past 11 games than Walsall (11) - a truly astonishing run for a team still sitting atop of League Two.

The saving grace is that key players are on the brink of returning. Sadler confirmed George Hall will be available this weekend after the trip to Kent came just too soon for the Birmingham loanee. 

Priestley Farquharson will be back in the reckoning although Sadler is cautious about overloading him following six months out of action. Jack Earing is likely to return before the end of the season while club captain Donervon Daniels was back on the bench at Gillingham. 

Hall in particular could have a key role to play between now and the end of the season.

Their seemingly unassailable 12-point lead at the end of January has been obliterated over the past two months, but destiny is still in Walsall's hands... for now!