Walsall 1 Blackpool 1 - Report and pictures

Jason Demetriou's third goal of the season gave Sean O'Driscoll's side the lead in the 66^th minute of a game which didn't really get going until the second-half.

The result means the Saddlers drop to third in League One, with Justin Edinburgh's Gillingham replacing them in the automatic promotion places.

In naming his starting line-up, boss O'Driscoll kept faith with the team that secured a 3-2 win at Bury last time out.

It meant the Saddlers remained in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Rico Henry on the left, Anthony Forde on the right and Romaine Sawyers supporting lone striker Tom Bradshaw.

For centre-back James O'Connor, the game marked his 400th appearance as a professional.

Unsurprisingly, Blackpool boss Neil McDonald also named an unchanged side - keeping faith with the team that secured a 5-0 win at Scunthorpe.

Full of confidence, it was Walsall who were quickest out of the blocks with Sawyers and Forde in particular combining well as O'Driscoll's side dominated possession.

Slowly but surely though, the visitors began to get a foothold on the game and they came close to breaking the deadlock following a swift counter-attack.

After both Sam Mantom and Adam Chambers dallied in midfield, Hayden White nipped in and carried the ball 50-yards before playing in an unmarked Jack Redshaw.

But the striker's fierce shot was well tipped over by a diving Neil Etheridge in the home goal.

Blackpool's last league win at Walsall had staggeringly come way back in 1900-01 campaign.

Yet it wasn't until mid-way through the half that the Saddlers really started to enjoy some possession in and around the Tangerine box.

They almost took the lead when a smart one-two between Sawyers and Mantom ended with the St Kitts & Nevis international seeing a strike well blocked by Jim McAlister.

Both sides were enjoying spells on the ball but struggling to create clear cut chances, with Walsall guilty of over playing in the final third.

But O'Driscoll's men had the home crowd on their feet and appealing for what looked a certain penalty in the 40th minute when Bradshaw was tripped in the box.

After Henry had caught White in possession, Bradshaw collected the ball and appeared to be clipped on the heels by the defender.

Yet despite the striker's protests, referee Dean Whitestone waved play-on.

Buoyed Walsall continued to press with Henry darting into the area and seeing a strike well blocked. Andy Taylor then fired wide with a ferocious volley from the edge of the box.

But, in truth, Blackpool walked off at the break the happier of the two sides having competed well and created the better chances.

With O'Driscoll's half-time instructions on board, Walsall looked to play at a higher tempo following the re-start.

They almost opened the scoring when Mantom nut-megged a defender to send Henry galloping to the byline.

The 18-year-old then sent in a teasing low cross which McAlister cleared with Bradshaw loitering.

Undeterred, the Saddlers continued to press and they almost took the lead on the hour mark when a fine Forde strike from 18-yards forced Doyle into a diving one-handed stop.

Minutes later and the goalkeeper was at it again, producing another superb one-handed stop to claw out a Bradshaw header destined for the bottom corner.

You could sense that a goal was coming and in the 66th minute it finally arrived through Demetriou.

Taylor sent an inviting low ball right across the six-yard-box and the Cypriot international was there to tap home his third of the season.

Blackpool responded with sub Uche Ikpeazu forcing Etheridge into a smart stop at his near post.

But it was the Saddlers who were now well on top and they almost doubled their advantage when Bradshaw slipped in Demetriou but the full-backs low strike was blocked.

Again McDonald's side responded with sub Mark Cullen chasing a long ball before flashing a shot wide of Etheridge's post.

O'Driscoll made his first change with five minutes remaining, Milan Lalkovic coming on for Bradshaw. Kieron Morris then replaced Sawyers.

With the fourth official indicating five minutes of stoppage time, O'Driscoll made his third quick-fire change with Matt Preston coming on for Henry to shore things up.

The substitution proved to be in vain though with Blackpool then pulling level.

Danny Philliskirk looked set to race into the box but Paul Downing seized him down on the edge of the box with a cynical foul.

The defender was fortunate to only see yellow with Ikpeazu's resultant free-kick bobbling around the box before Philliskirk himself tapped home from close range.