Walsall 1 Stevenage 1 - match report

Walsall remain in the League One drop zone despite a hard-earned point against play-off chasing Stevenage.

Andy Butler's early opener fired the Saddlers ahead but Michael Bostwick's second-half stunner levelled for Boro.

Emmanuel Ledesma hit the post late on and Lee Beevers' goal-saving challenge denied Craig Reid in a turgid game.

The draw – Walsall's 18th of the season – leaves the Saddlers with one defeat in their last eight games but Wycombe's late goal in their 1-1 draw with MK Dons kept them in the bottom four.

The hosts were unchanged following the 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in mid-week, with Richard Taundry and Adam Chambers still out injured.

Walsall, still feeling wronged from that Hillsborough draw in mid-week, started off strongly and their early pressure told after just four minutes.

Manny Smith's slick knock-down from Mat Sadler's hoisted cross found Butler 12-yards out and, from a slight angle, the skipper spun and fired a half volley in off the far post.

It was a predatory strike from the defender as Walsall took advantage of their ponderous visitors and Alex Nicholls was denied a second when he cracked in from 25-yards – but the whistle had already gone for handball.

The goal was a vital foothold for the Saddlers who knew they would come under pressure from the physical visitors.

And so it proved as midfielders Bostwick and Joel Byrom began to edge out the slighter rivals of Sam Mantom and Florent Cuvelier.

Jon Ashton planted a header over after 26 minutes but Boro struggled to open the Saddlers up in open play.

Butler and Smith were standing firm but Walsall were losing the midfield battle and, as a result, Jon Macken and Nicholls were rendered ineffective.

Boro replaced the quiet Patrick Agyemang with Jennison Myrie-Williams at the break to switch to 4-3-3.

Jamie Paterson had the first effort of the second half when he fired an ambitious effort wide but the visitors had started to take control and levelled on the hour.

The Saddlers had looked comfortable in open play but could do nothing about Bostwick's curling effort from 25-yards which left David Grof helpless.

It had been coming – purely down to Boro's persistence – with the scrappy Saddlers failing to retain possession well enough to hurt their visitors.

But Kevan Hurst blew a fine chance to restore the lead on 64 minutes when he headed wide from Nicholls' centre but it was a rare opening for Walsall.

And they were indebted to Beevers 20 minutes from time when the right back produced a goal-saving tackle on Reid after Darius Charles' crossed when clean through.

It was a rare, clear, opening for either side during a turgid second half which lacked the quality or tempo.

The Saddlers, though, cranked up the pressure with 10 minutes left and Mat Sadler's volley skidded wide.

And substitute Ledesma dragged a wonderful chance wide when he teed himself up from 15-yards two minutes later.

The midfielder, making his first home appearance since re-joining the club, was then agonisingly close to 87th minute winner when his 20-yard free kick struck the base of the post.

By Nick Mashiter