Carlisle 1 Walsall 1

Alex Nicholls capped his 200th Walsall outing with a priceless equaliser as the Saddlers escaped Carlisle with a point.

The winger kept his cool to net an 81nd minute penalty after Frank Simek fouled Andy Butler to bag the Saddlers their 13th draw of the season.

It was a massive let-off for the visitors who were second best against the high-flying hosts – who took the lead after Butler's early mistake let in Lee Miller.

Jon-Paul McGovern hit the bar twice for United while Butler also struck a post for Walsall as they moved one point clear of the League One drop zone.

The Saddlers were unchanged from their gritty 0-0 draw at Brentford and were unbeaten in their last seven games against the Cumbrians.

The hosts had never won three straight games during boss Greg Abbott's three-year reign and attacked the visitors from kick off with James Berrett driving wide.

And the midfielder carved out a better chance for McGovern after four minutes, cutting back for the former Swindon winger to smash against the bar from 12 yards.

But, three minutes later, United did take the lead after Butler was shockingly caught in possession by Miller 40-yards out.

The striker burst through before Adam Chambers' tackle saw the ball run for McGovern and he teed up an unmarked Miller to tap in from five yards.

It was too easy for the Cumbrians but the Saddlers reacted instantly and Adam Collin beat away drives from Jamie Paterson and Richard Taundry.

They were brief flickers, though, as the sluggish Saddlers were second best to the classy Cumbrians.

Berrett again went close on 24 minutes after Francois Zoko capitalised on sloppy play from Taundry and Chambers.

Carlisle, unbeaten in their last seven, had yet to shift up the gears but comfortably held off the Saddlers' muted attacks.

The only moment of brief concern was when Collin scooped Paterson's 25-yard volley behind but Walsall again struggled to assert themselves in the final third.

And, two minutes before the break, they almost fell further behind when McGovern's 25-yard free kick struck the bar.

United continued their dominance in the second half and only dallying from Miller and McGovern denied them another chance after Zoko stole the ball off Lee Beevers just before the hour.

But the Saddlers almost equalised out of nothing on 63 minutes when Butler smashed a 12-yard effort against the post after Nicholls' cross pinged about the Carlisle box.

They would have barely deserved it though after an insipid performance and Carlisle only had themselves to blame for not being further ahead.

Zoko could have won a penalty on 74 minutes when he burst clean through and was clipped while rounding Walker but he stayed on his feet as the ball ran out of play.

And the winger kept his side ahead minutes later when he hacked Butler's header away at the far post – before the skipper handed the Saddlers a late lifeline.

Butler and Simek tussled on the edge of the Carlisle area with nine minutes left and the United defender rashly barged the Saddlers man over for a penalty.

Nicholls coolly stepped up to fire low to Collin's left for an unlikely leveller.

Former loanee Jordan Cook almost restored Carlisle's lead immediately when Walker saved his low drive and Collin turned Taundry's injury-time free kick wide as the points were shared.