Walsall 1 Charlton 1

Walsall grabbed a vital point against Charlton as the 10-man Saddlers rattled the League One leaders.

Jon Macken's fifth goal of the season was cancelled out by Yann Kermorgant's header as the hosts halted the Addicks' eight-game winning streak but remain in the drop zone.

Mat Sadler was sent off for a second bookable offence on 89 minutes as Walsall held out – but it could have been even better.

Sadler's second-half strike was cleared off the line by Darel Russell and substitute George Bowerman twice went close in the dying stages.

Skipper Andy Butler remained on the bench as boss Dean Smith kept faith with Oliver Lancashire and Manny Smith while Jamie Paterson returned for Will Grigg, who dropped out of the squad.

And Paterson, starting up front, had the visitors sweating instantly when his jinking run ended with a curling shot wide after just 46 seconds.

But the Saddlers were indebted to Jimmy Walker when the veteran stopper smothered Michael Morrison's point-blank effort two minutes later.

The early action quickly subsided though as the hosts settled and began to frustrate the leaders.

And Walsall stunned the visitors in the 35^th minute when a well-worked corner found Sadler, his 20-yard effort was blocked and Macken turned in the rebound from seven yards.

The goal lifted the Saddlers but forced the Addicks to open up and Bradley Wright-Phillips drilled wide as they tried to respond.

Wright-Phillips was a constant threat but it was his strike-partner Kermorgant who did break the Saddlers' resistance to level on 45 minutes.

Danny Hollands' fine flick saw Hogan Ephraim scamper down the left and, with Lee Beevers backing off, the winger delivered a superb cross for Kermorgant to crash in.

It was nothing the Addicks didn't deserve though – despite Walsall's battling efforts – and they looked to turn it up after the break.

Beevers was forced into a vital covering header as the Addicks pressed but failed to break through the robust Walsall defence until Hollands squandered a golden chance on 68 minutes.

The midfielder was left free in the middle from Kermorgant's knock-down but could only plant his header straight at Walker.

Suddenly the game opened up and only Russell's goal-line header denied Sadler's curling effort four minutes later after substitute Claude Gnakpa bulldozed his way through.

It was end to end as both teams went for the kill and the impressive Hollands volleyed over with 13 minutes remaining.

The Saddlers threatened and Bowerman curled one low effort wide but Sadler, booked for an early foul on Chris Solly, was dismissed for a second caution as Scott Wagstaff threatened to break on 89 minutes.

It left Walsall holding on and Ephraim's header – the last touch of the game – skimmed the outside of the post.