Dean Smith rues Walsall's luck in draw

Tom Bradshaw's 10th goal of the season put the Saddlers deservedly in front in the 51st minute, after Paul Downing and Milan Lalkovic had earlier rattled the woodwork.

Walsall had played some of their best football of the season, but Nigel Adkins' side pulled level through Jose Baxter's 20-yard strike shortly after the hour.

In the build-up to that goal, referee Geoff Eltringham had wrongly awarded a free-kick for a foul on Paul Coutts following a challenge by Romaine Sawyers.

And Smith admitted he felt his side should have come away with all three points, saying: "I'm disappointed we have not got all three points.

"I don't think it would have been an injustice if we got to half-time three goals up.

"Our first half performance was excellent and we have made a good team look average.

"We moved the ball with great movement. We have hit the woodwork a number of times and their keeper has made good saves.

"I've seen the free-kick again and that is why I am even more aggrieved. It wasn't a free-kick. Romaine has put in challenge and the lad has just gone down.

"But from that free-kick Connor Sammon has slipped in the box and fallen into James O'Connor.

"That should have been given as a free-kick as well because he gave enough soft ones to them."

The result leaves Walsall third in League One, four points behind leaders Coventry with a game in hand. And Smith was keen to draw on the positives.

He said: "I thought our movement at times was excellent. It would have been very hard for any team to try and control us. I'm pleased for Tom as well, getting his goal."

Despite Walsall's dominance, Sheffield United had a huge shout for a penalty when Che Adams went down under a challenge from Neil Etheridge in the second half.

Smith added: "I can see why the referee didn't give that. The lad was already going down."