Pictures and analysis of Walsall 2 Crawley 2

Written off in August, written off on Saturday – Walsall continue to deliver the impossible.

They keep defying the doubters – and League One gravity – and refuse to sit down or shut up. With minutes left on Saturday, and 2-0 down against Crawley, it was 'one of those days' for Walsall.

Now, after Jamie Paterson and Will Grigg struck in the dying seconds to rescue a point, it could yet be 'one of those seasons'.

The point was a hammer blow to Crawley's fading promotion hopes but gives the Saddlers continued impetus.

Lost two-goal leads against Brentford, Crewe and Yeovil this season have been much lamented but this role reversal could prove the final catalyst.

Those six points would have Walsall chasing automatic promotion, instead they sit ninth, three points adrift but in touch with the pacesetters.

It sets up a season-defining spell. Win at Hartlepool on Saturday and the next three games decide the campaign's fate.

Yeovil, Coventry and Sheffield United await. All teams above Walsall, all teams they can still overtake.

The Easter weekend could see the Saddlers rise again. Remain unbeaten and take, say, seven points, and what was considered impossible last July could become reality.

Failure to pick up more than four points and the dream ends. Belief and momentum with seven games left is key and Walsall have it in abundance.

While the manager refuses to publically discuss the Saddlers' play-off chances behind closed doors there is a growing, if quiet, confidence they have a real chance.

The top 10 teams are separated by just nine points and even if Walsall play down their position they cannot ignore the maths.

The lack of outside expectation allows them to flourish without pressure. It is new territory for most and that could prove crucial.

Only Andy Taylor has recent promotion challenge experience – the left-back missed a penalty in Sheffield United's play-off final defeat to Huddersfield last season.

They are a team with individual stars in Grigg, Paterson and Febian Brandy, but a team with an unbreakable spirit.

Saturday's fightback showed why the Saddlers haven't been beaten at home since November, an 11-game streak dating back to that fateful FA Cup defeat to Lincoln.

That was the nadir of the season and Walsall plumbed the depths during winter but – in spring – they could reach the pinnacle.

Spurred on by Grigg and Paterson's goals – they have 30 between them – the Saddlers have what they have craved for so long.

Grigg's 19th of the season puts him on the brink of becoming the first Walsall player to break the 20-goal mark in 12 years.

It will be a testament to their strength on Saturday though, with Grigg away on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Paterson, meanwhile, has added the end product to a game that has promised so much since he broke through as a teen.

Their goals, and the grit of Adam Chambers, Paul Downing and Butler hauled them level in a match they didn't deserve to lose.

The first half showed no sign of the late drama to come. A dour game burst to life six minutes after the break when Jamie Proctor rifled in from 20 yards to put Crawley ahead.

It was a shock to the system. Aaron McCarey saved from Paul Hayes and Adam Chambers' block denied Proctor on the rebound before Walsall woke up.

Paterson ended a jinking run by striking the inside of the post and Taylor struck a free-kick straight at Paul Jones.

Walsall turned up the heat but were hit with 20 minutes to go when Hayes turned in after McCarey denied Nicky Adams.

It looked lost, and Adams almost made it 3-0 minutes later, but McCarey turned his shot wide after a swift counter.

Walsall couldn't find that break – until Paterson sparked the late show when he cut inside with 30 seconds of normal time left and his shot deflected in off Matt Sparrow.

Belief oozed back and it was pandemonium when Grigg pounced on Taylor's delicious cross to level in stoppage time. Don't rule them out.

By Nick Mashiter