Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Walsall 1 – analysis

The romance of the FA Cup was lost in a small corner of east London as Walsall discovered its reality.

If ever the Saddlers needed a reminder of what awaits them in League Two, should they lose their latest relegation fight, this was it. A Cup draw in Dagenham on Saturday gave them a lesson in what they must avoid after chastening experience at Victoria Road.

Boss Dean Smith was typically positive and refused to criticise, despite his men being second-best to a team 91st in the Football League for long spells.

The manager is shrouded in a positive aura – he has been since day one – but his assertions the Saddlers were the better side were optimistic. They are, at least, in the hat for the third round – something which hasn't happened since 2007/08 and will be favourites in the replay a week tomorrow.

But it cannot be easy playing for the Saddlers at the moment. Despite positive noises there will be a hefty dose of frustration and disappointment behind closed doors as they struggle to find the elusive wins.

Four consecutive away draws highlight their resilience but, with just two wins in 18 games in all competitions, that resilience needs to turn into results.

Guts and courage are second-hand qualities to skill and class – something which the Saddlers haven't demonstrated enough. No-one is questioning the effort or commitment but, on Saturday, even modicum of quality would have ended the contest.

It was all a bit turgid, Walsall putting their bodies on the line and substituting finesse for grit and determination. They were shell-shocked by the Daggers' up-and-at-'em start, and often survived on the hosts' failings rather than their own fortitude. Ultimately the team must find rediscover their freedom after being shackled by a run which has derailed the season. They have an opportunity to do that now they are three unbeaten. It is a small run but must be the beginning of a chapter which turns their campaign around.

Momentum can take them in a different direction and a win over leaders Charlton at the Banks's on Saturday would leave them buoyant ahead of a Christmas 'six pointer' with rock bottom Chesterfield.

Walsall don't deserve to be written off, despite their failings, but with games against Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale before the year is out they must justify the manager's faith. The Cup cannot be their only source of hope if they remain in the League One drop zone come January.

And they came so close to a win but were left to Nurse their wounds after the Daggers ensured the teams go again a week tomorrow. Jon Nurse's 25-yard strike was superb but owed much to Lee Beevers being sold too easily as the hitman gave him the slip, nine minutes from time. Claude Gnakpa's towering header looked to have given the Saddlers safe passage after a dogged, if decidedly patchy, display.

Stripped of their loan stars – including West Ham striker Cristiano Montano – the Daggers were the better side for much of the first half.

This was a team who had lost eight on the bounce in League Two and scraped through against Bath City – bottom of the Blue Square Premier – in the first round.

But they bossed a timid Walsall who had Jimmy Walker to thank for twice saving from Brian Woodall.

Dagenham were accomplished in comparison to the stilted and uncomfortable Saddlers, whose best chance was squandered when Alex Nicholls' half volley was saved by James Shea.

The visitors improved after the break – which owed much to Dagenham's eroding confidence – and Jon Macken should have done better than to blast over from 10 yards.

Gnakpa's 76th minute header – his first goal for the club – looked set to hand the Saddlers safe passage but Nurse's leveller five minutes later ensured an unwanted replay.

There was still time for Ryan Jarvis to be dismissed for a reckless flailing arm in the face of his former Norwich pal Michael Spillane.

The striker will now be hit with a three-game ban as his Saddlers career continues to stutter. That Walsall remain in the hat remains the positive to cling to and a win could provide the spark they are searching for – and even that extra bit of missing romance.