Huddersfield 1 Walsall 1

Jamie Paterson's stunner earned battling Walsall a point at Huddersfield after an excellent rearguard action.

Lee Novak's opener broke the Saddlers' stubborn resistance after last-gasp defending and a first-half goalkeeping masterclass from David Grof kept them in the hunt.

Paterson's wonder goal hauled them level with 12 minutes remaining before Ian Bennett in the home goal denied Will Grigg a shock winner and preserve Huddersfield's 42-game unbeaten run.

The point also kept the Saddlers out of the League One drop zone as they stay 20th.

Grof replaced the suspended Jimmy Walker as Walsall went for a more defensive 4-5-1 to frustrate the hosts.

Claude Gnakpa returned for the injured Kevan Hurst – out for six week with a broken bone in his heel – while youth team keeper Liam Maher was on the bench.

Smith opted to go with the 17-year-old as cover, after being forced to play Lee Beevers in goal after Walker was sent off against Milton Keynes Dons last weekend.

And Grof was immediately called into action when he parried Jordan Rhodes' shot in the second minute, after the 18-goal striker shrugged off Andy Butler's challenge.

The Terriers stretched the Saddlers early and Beevers and Butler were forced into hurried clearances.

There were few attacking options for the visitors though, with lone striker Jon Macken forced to chase long balls as the Saddlers sought a respite.

Huddersfield continued to question the Saddlers but Grof had the answers and superbly denied Rhodes with a fine low save after 20 minutes.

Macken should have stunned the hosts just five minutes later when he mis-hit his volley straight at Bennett, after being left free five yards out.

It was a rare chance for the Saddlers as Huddersfield dominated but failed to find a way past the robust, if last ditch, defending.

Anton Peterlin headed Liam Cooper's header off the line and Grof came to the rescue again on 37 minutes, denying Rhodes after Novak's pass found the striker unmarked 15-yards out.

It was one-way traffic and Gary Roberts blazed over in first-half stoppage time before the Saddlers regrouped.

The Huddersfield onslaught continued after the break though and Rhodes headed over but Walsall grew in confidence and Paterson replaced Peterlin on 55 minutes, as they switched to 4-4-2.

The youngster almost made an instant impact but was crowded out after linking with Macken.

The Saddlers improved, with the Terriers flustered, but the hosts' nerves were finally settled when Novak stabbed in Roberts' low cross on 66 minutes to break Walsall's resistance.

However, the visitors refused to buckle further and hit back on 78 minutes when Paterson netted his first senior goal.

The substitute received the ball 40-yards out, held off the challenge of Damien Johnson, moved into the area and curled an excellent effort into the bottom corner from 15-yards.

Grigg then almost bagged a shock second in the 89th minute, but Bennett saved his attempted lob.

But Huddersfield felt they should have had a penalty in stoppage time, but Jack Hunt was booked for diving after falling under pressure from Grigg.