Preston 0 Walsall 0

Walsall claimed a fine point at Preston but blew several good chances to take all three, writes Nick Mashiter.

Florent Cuvelier shot wide when clean through and Jamie Paterson hit the bar before Lee Beevers was denied by Thorsten Stuckmann at the death.

The point kept the Saddlers out of the League One drop zone and extended their unbeaten run to three games.

John Macken returned for the benched Alex Nicholls while Anton Peterlin replaced the injured Adam Chambers.

The Saddlers started well with Paterson vollying wide after 10 minutes but eight minutes later Preston were rocked after a serious injury to midfielder Adam Barton.

The Lilywhites man went in for a challenge on the Saddlers right with Richard Taundry and the Walsall ace won the ball but Barton's left leg immediately buckled.

It took 11 minutes of treatment - where Barton was given air for the pain - before he was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle.

The break hit both teams' momentum before David Gorf rescued the Saddlers during the lengthy first half injury time.

First he tipped over from Graham Cummins before saving Chris Holroyd's point blank header from the resulting corner.

After a slow start to the second period, Will Grigg flicked Paterson's cross at Stuckmann before Cuvelier wasted a glorious chance when he broke clean through but fired wide.

The Saddlers were on top and Oliver Lancashire planted a free header over just after the hour and then Paterson's deflected effort clipped the bar with 16 minutes remaining.

And, in stoppage time, Beevers almost won it but his 25 yard effort was tipped over by Stuckmann.