Pictures and analysis of Brentford 0 Walsall 0

Respect is hard to come by but, ultimately, you get what you deserve in life.

After just one defeat in 2013, Walsall are gaining admiration – yet it's unlikely to be found in West London.

Saturday's goalless draw at Brentford was another point proved, but it was still to the chagrin of the opposition.

Home manager Uwe Rosler's post-match comments were laced with the kind of dismissal Saddlers boss Dean Smith is keen to stamp out, as the Bees boss offered little credit to the Saddlers.

Quotes of "Against teams like this we need to play with a higher tempo" and "Walsall came here to slow the game down and we didn't do anything about it" highlight his frustration at not beating 'little old Walsall' at home.

Two years ago, when the Saddlers were relegation fodder, that may have cut some ice, just. But not now.

There is still a sense, as Smith has admitted, that the Saddlers remain viewed as easy pickings, perennial strugglers. But Walsall are a changed team – a changed club – and their progression must be recognised.

Last season they got to 50 points only on the final day of the season, but have already surpassed that total this term.

Even the Great Escape of 2010-11, full of euphoria and suspense, yielded only 48 points and it is a measure of the club's progress that they are on course for their best season in three years.

That they still have play-off ambitions is a further testament to the change heading into the final two months of the season.

A draw did little to enhance either team's promotion hopes, though, and with the Saddlers nine points off the top six their challenge hinges on the next couple of weeks.

Ninth place has already exceeded pre-season expectations. A play-off charge would be equally unexpected but still remains a possibility, even if an outside one.

It remains the team's lofty ambition, with Andy Taylor insisting they have moved on from the 50-point target and are aiming for 74 to sneak into the play-offs.

Win at Carlisle tomorrow night and gain revenge against Shrewsbury on Saturday and those hopes will remain alive.

Failure to gain victory and thoughts may drift to next season and the excitement that could bring should Smith retain most of his developing team.

The foundations are already being laid with new deals – and with debutant Ben George, the Saddlers can add another one off the conveyor belt.

The 19-year-old right-back was drafted in after injuries to Ben Purkiss, James Chambers and Richard Taundry.

Comfortable in possession and unflustered off it, George helped earn a point with a crucial clearance off the line from Marcello Trotta.

His development will be handled with care but there was enough to suggest Smith – who managed him in the youth team – will have no concern about throwing him in at the deep end again.

George was one of three changes as James Baxendale was recalled in place of Craig Westcarr and Aaron McCarey started after returning on loan from Wolves.

Walsall began sharply; Andy Butler's header was hastily hacked off the line by Adam Forshaw inside two minutes but, despite Will Grigg's excellent hold-up play, Walsall lacked attacking bite in the first-half.

Instead, the Bees wasted their best openings as they pushed the Saddlers onto the ropes.

First McCarey made a smart low stop from Trotta and then turned Clayton Donaldson's looping cross over before he was beaten by Taylor's slice, only for the ball to come back off the post.

But the Saddlers held firm and when George cleared Trotta's shot off the line a minute before the break, their threat disappeared.

Walsall began to take control; Taylor drilled wide after a quick free-kick and Simon Moore denied Baxendale before turning away Grigg's snap-shot on the hour.

But from then, both teams struggled to break free of the defensive shackles and only Nicky Featherstone's mis-directed injury-time effort threatened to break the deadlock.

Point earned, respect gained.

By Nick Mashiter