Bristol Rovers 1 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

In what can only be described as a game of two-halves, Walsall dominated the opening 45 minutes and took the lead through a brilliant Erhun Oztumer strike.

Jon Whitney's side were then denied a clear penalty when Simeon Jackson was clipped inside the area only for referee Brendon Malone to inexplicably wave away the protests.

Rovers equalised with a penalty of their own just before the half hour mark, with Matty Taylor converting after Adam Chambers had tripped Billy Bodin.

But after the interval it was the hosts who looked more likely to grab a winner with Neil Etheridge forced into four smart saves.

Overall though, a draw was a fair result with both teams guilty of not being clinical enough when they were in the ascendancy.

The result means Walsall remain in 20th position in the League One table.

Boss Whitney made three changes to the team that slipped to a 2-0 loss at Northampton with Andreas Makris, Franck Moussa and Simeon Jackson all restored.

Liam Kinsella, Maz Kouhyar and Amadou Bakayoko were the men to make way as the Saddlers switched to a 4-1-4-1 system that saw Oztumer and Kieron Morris start in central midfield.

For Rovers, prolific forward Matty Taylor – a transfer target for Walsall in the summer ­– was partnered by Ellis Harrison in attack.

Both teams began the game knowing a victory would push them into the relative comfort of mid-table following disappointing starts.

And it was the Saddlers who started the brighter with Rovers keeper Kelle Roos twice called into action in the opening 10 minutes.

After Moussa collected the ball at the back post, the Derby loanee first did well to snuff out the winger's low cross that otherwise looked destined to be tapped home by an unmarked Jackson.

The glovesman then produced a smart stop to deny the Canadian international with a snap shot from 20-yards.

Undeterred, Walsall continued to press and their pressure told when they broke the deadlock in 16th minute.

Oztumer's free-kick from just outside the area clattered into the wall. But the ball was worked back to the trickster who then curled an unstoppable strike beyond Roos and into the left-corner.

Whitney's side now looked rampant and they were denied a clear penalty just two minutes later when Jackson was tripped inside the box.

The striker raced through on goal after being played in by Oztumer but was tumbled to the floor by Tom Lockyer for what seemed a blatant spot-kick.

Incredibly though, referee Brendan Malone waved away the protests – much to the fury of the 170 travelling Saddlers.

Despite the set-back, Walsall continued to go in search of a second and they almost got it when Scott Laird darted into the box and flashed a strike inches wide.

But the game was turned on its head on the half hour mark when, to rub salt into the wounds, Rovers were awarded a spot-kick of their own.

Adam Chambers clipped Billy Bodin in the box, with Taylor smashing the ball straight down the middle to beat Neil Etheridge.

Walsall hit back immediately with Oztumer tricking his way into the box and seeing a strike blocked before Morris fired over from 25-yards.

But their momentum was halted in the 36th minute when Whitney was forced to switch Makris for Kouyhar after the Cypriot international had picked up a knock.

Rovers responded by enjoying a spell of possession of their own. And they almost took the lead when Taylor's scooped header from a corner was brilliantly clawed away by Etheridge.

It was Saddlers though who had dominated the half, and they almost regained the lead just minutes before the interval when Oztumer slipped in Jackson once again.

The forward looked to guide the ball past the on-rushing Roos, but the keeper did well to stand his ground and block the effort with his legs.

After a slugging start to the second half from both sides, Rovers came a whisker away from the taking the lead in the 54th minute.

Taylor headed a whipped in ball back across goal where Harrison out muscled Toner. But despite having the goal at his mercy, the striker looped his header over the bar.

With the wind in their sails, Darrell Clarke's side continued to press with Etheridge then called into two quick fire saves.

First, the Philippines international parried away Taylor's firm drive before getting back to his feet to push away a Bodin effort from 20-yards.

Walsall hit-back and should have regained the lead when Jackson slipped in Morris only for the midfielder to balloon his strike over the bar.

For the next 10 minutes, it was the hosts pressing for a winner with the Memorial Stadium rocking and Whitney looking to stem the tide by switching Bakayoko for Moussa.

It was Rovers who continued to threaten though with Chris Lines sending a free-kick just wide and Taylor then firing inches past the post inside four minutes of stoppage time.