Yeovil 1 Walsall 1

Walsall rode their luck to claim a point from their vital relegation showdown with Yeovil at Huish Park.

Jon Macken fired the Saddlers ahead against the run of play midway through the first-half but the Glovers, who dominated much of the game, levelled on the stroke of half-time with an Andy Butler own goal.

The home side piled on the pressure in the second half and yet it was Dean Smith's men who went closest to winning when substitute Emmanuel Ledesma rattled the crossbar in the closing stages.

Walsall made one personnel change from the defeat to Leyton Orient with Alex Nicholls back in place of Ledesma, as boss Smith switched to a 4-3-3 system.

But it did not work in the early stages as Yeovil dominated the game with Andy Williams missing a hat-trick of great chances.

The striker fired over the far with the goal at his mercy, shot tamely at Jimmy Walker in the Walsall goal and then scuffed a shot wide.

But, in the midst of the Yeovil dominance, it was the Saddlers who took the lead from a corner after Darryl Westlake's persistence gave Julian Gray a shooting chance and his effort was turned around the post by goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

Matt Richards' resulting corner was headed goalwards by Butler and, although the hosts scrambled it off the line, Macken was on hand to prod home the rebound.

Williams missed another chance when fired over from the edge of the box and Yeovil had a penalty appeal turned down, when Walker appeared to shove Dean Bowditch in the box.

But Yeovil drew level in the final minute of the half as Walsall's back four, which had been stretched throughout, was carved open again.

Luke Ayling's cross from the right was headed goalwards by Williams and ricocheted off the post and then off the hapless Butler for an own goal.

The start of the second-half was dreadful as a spectacle and neither team created a clear chance until the hour mark, when Ayling's cross from the right found Williams steaming into the six-yard box.

But, even then, the striker headed over the bar.

From then the action deteriorated further into farce, with both sides careless in possession and Walsall especially poor at the back.

But, with seven minutes to go, Tom Williams had to clear off the line for Walsall after Walker spilled Oli Johnson's shot.

At the other end, Saddlers substitute Emmanuel Ledesma sent a shot on the turn over the crossbar.

And, with four minutes left, the Saddlers should have snatched an unlikely win.

Adam Virgo's poor pass was intercepted by Darren Byfield, who squared for fellow substitute Ledesma but he fired against the bar from the edge of the box.