Brentford 0 Walsall 0 - match report

Jimmy Walker's g-love affair with Walsall continued as the goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on his record-breaking appearance at Brentford.

The keeper made his 530th Saddlers outing – breaking Colin Harrison's record – at Griffin Park as the visitors claimed a valuable and deserved point.

And he was forced into a point-saving stop when he denied Clayton Donaldson in the second half after the striker raced clean through.

The battling Saddlers - out of the League One drop zone on goal difference -could have even nicked the win with Jamie Paterson and, late on, Alex Nicholls going close.

With Walker's start the Saddlers were unchanged from the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth where they blew a 2-0 lead.

But the goalkeeper wasn't allowed to ease into the game as he parried Marcus Bean's 20-yard skidder away within the first two minutes.

Brentford, without a win in five, made the early running with Gary Alexander and Donaldson dangerous before the Saddlers woke up after 18 minutes.

Richard Taundry's quick break saw him feed Paterson and when he found Mat Sadler the left-back's low cross was hacked away by Leon Legge.

From the corner Nicholls' effort was blocked and then, a minute later, Paterson whistled a 20-yard effort over.

Sam Saunders shot tamely at Walker after 24 minutes as the game stuttered with referee Mark Brown the focal point on 38 minutes.

The Bees broke and the covering Sadler looked to have chopped down Donaldson, who was clean through, but to the fury of the hosts the official waved play on.

Brown, who had already booked Bean for a foul on Anton Peterlin, continued to anger the Bees but their frustration was also directed at their team who failed to seriously test the Saddlers.

And, seconds before the break, Simon Moore was forced into a fine low save to deny Jon Macken the opener from 12 yards after Nicholls skinned Dale Bennett.

The Saddlers veteran forced Moore into a comfortable stop two minutes after the break but neither team was able to bring much quality or finesse to the table.

Taundry screwed one wide from 25-yards and Donaldson saw his effort deflect for a corner before Paterson threw himself at Jonathan Douglas' drive to turn it over on 69 minutes.

Brentford were pressing and Walker rolled back the years after 71 minutes when Donaldson broke clean through from Douglas' pass.

Andy Butler got back to challenge but Donaldson wriggled free – only for Walker to execute a textbook block.

The Saddlers were failing to create anything going forward as the Bees sensed a goal and Butler cleared a dangerous Alexander header away with 13 minutes remaining.

Walsall were looking to hit the Bees on the counter and they almost did seven minutes from time when Nicholls wriggled free down the left, only to drag his shot across goal.

The striker then flashed a low effort wide as the game stuttered to a draw.

By Nick Mashiter