Walsall land late blow to punch their weight

Down but not out. Walsall fight on, writes Nick Mashiter.

Black and blue, they emerged from their bout with Notts County last night with pride intact even if they failed to claim the top prize.

As two of the division's minnows slugged it out on the League One undercard there was more than a little grit to the Saddlers.

Previously this season they have floated like a bee and stung like a butterfly. Their soft defence easily exposed by one precise jab.

They have been on the ropes and suffered countless knockout attempts but, like the plucky underdog, keep getting up.

Lee Hughes looked like he had KO'd the Saddlers for another night before Alex Nicholls' late sucker punch salvaged a point.

The draw failed to move them off the bottom but kept them in touch with the pack and, crucially, extended their unbeaten run to three games - the longest of the season.

Seven points off safety, they can ill afford to lose the momentum as there is no room for manoeuvre.

They have suffered at the hands of their relegation rivals too many times but the Saddlers are a different proposition under Dean Smith.

Saturday's 6-1 win over Bristol Rovers helped but they have slowly started to become a unit, a team, and one you can back on making a decent fist of the fight.

That was evident last night as, far from being their best under Smith, Walsall snatched a point in a game they would have lost just weeks ago.

Indeed, the 3-0 defeat to County on New Year's Day was the nadir of their season and laid the foundations for Chris Hutchings' overdue sacking 72 hours later.

It is premature to suggest Walsall have turned the corner but a result at Carlisle on Saturday would suggest they are set to perform a swift about.

There are still causes for concern - the ease at which Hughes scored will be top of Smith's agenda today - but the mistakes which have dogged the season are being erased.

The impact of Chris Nicholl on the defence cannot be overlooked but the players' attitude tells you they truly believe they can stay up and don't need to rely on a majority decision.

Oliver Lancashire and Andy Butler were - Hughes' goal aside - outstanding and the return of Jimmy Walker key.

The veteran stopper's save from Hughes' late dipping effort was just as important as the equalising goal which followed it.

Walker's comeback was the only change from the weekend's riot as Smith, unsurprisingly, kept faith with the men who smashed six past Rovers.

And 10 minutes in they should have hit the goal-trail again with a penalty when Jason Price was pushed by Mike Edwards in the area.

The striker stumbled and got a toe on the ball only for Ricky Ravenhill to clear off the line but, to the astonishment of the visitors, referee Eddie Ilderton failed to award the spot kick.

It marked a positive start but Meadow Lane was hardly a bed of roses.

The hosts sparked into life after Ravenhill's heroics and Neal Bishop headed over before Aaron Lescott made a goal-saving clearance from David Martin's cross as Hughes lurked.

The former Albion ace made his presence felt and should have scored after 25 minutes when teed up by Karl Hawley but scuffed wide.

It was a let-off for the Saddlers who stood firm under pressure with Butler and Lancashire excelling.

Walker, though, came to the rescue twice on 31 minutes when he beat away Westcarr's drive and smothered Hughes' six-yard shot.

Walsall needed an outlet as the batted away waves of County attacks without an exit strategy. Price and Jon Macken struggled as, despite the willingness of Julian Gray and Nicholls, they kept running into cul-de-sacs.

Matt Gill fired straight at Stuart Nelson in a rare attack, 10 minutes before the break, and Price should have done better than balloon over in injury time.

As rearguard actions go, Walsall's first half efforts deserved credit but they afforded County too much space on the flanks.

The worry was that, with the law of averages, the hosts would get some joy out wide.

And so it proved on 64 minutes when Martin's corner was glanced in by Hughes.

However harsh it was on the Saddlers - they had forced the early second half play - they were behind in a vital game.

Prior to the goal Walsall, who lost Gill to exhaustion at half-time, had the Magpies worried but never seriously tested Nelson.

A cross here and a trick there was never going to unlock a defence who kept out £27m Edin Dzeko until late on Sunday afternoon.

Lancashire skidded a drive wide and Walker was a full stretch to tip over Hughes' 30-yarder three minutes from time.

And the save proved crucial as, 60 seconds later, Nicholls latched onto Richard Taundry's pass to fire under Nelson from the angle.

It claimed a priceless point for these Walsall fighters. They are now ready to go the distance.

Notts County (4-4-2): Nelson; Darby, Edwards, Pearce, Harley (Thompson, 66); Martin (Smith, 88), Ravenhill, Bishop, Westcarr (Gow, 80); Hawley, Hughes. Subs not used: Lee, Gobern, Spicer, Burch (gk).

Walsall (4-4-2): Walker 7, Westlake 7, Butler 8, Lancashire 9, Lescott 7, Nicholls 7, Gill 6, Richards 7, Gray 6, Macken 6, Price 6. Subs: Taundry 7 (Gill 46), Grigg 6 (Price 68), Paterson (Macken 75). Subs not used: McDonald, Smith, Marshall, Bevan (gk)

Attendance: 4,714 (371 away)

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear).