Gillingham 1 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

Walsall battled their way back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw at Gillingham in an uninspiring and uneventful clash at Priestfield Stadium.

Franck Moussa's second half strike cancelled out Cody McDonald's opener to ensure the Saddlers stretched their unbeaten run to four games.

The two sides entered the clash in contrasting form, with Jon Whitney's men having won in each of their last three outings. Gillingham meanwhile had lost their previous four fixtures.

But there was little to separate the two sides on a cold evening in Kent, with the Gills visibly low on confidence and Walsall struggling to impose their passing game.

The result means the Saddlers are still to win on the road in League One this season, with the draw meaning they remain 14^th in the table.

And at the final whistle, the game came to an ugly conclusion with home supporters venting their fury at boss Justin Edinburgh who had to be held back by the club's stewards.

Before kick-off, Whitney sprung a surprise in naming his starting XI with top scorer Simeon Jackson failing to shake off a thigh injury in time to play and Amadou Bakayoko suspended.

It meant record signing Andreas Makris started as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In midfield, skipper Adam Chambers made his 250^th appearance for the club.

For Gillingham, forward McDonald recovered from an eye injury to take his place upfront while Josh Wright – who was heavily linked with a move to Walsall in the summer – started in midfield.

Justin Edinburgh's side entered the game having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 24 outings – a run which stretched back to last season.

But after a cagey and uninspiring opening 15 minutes, the home side began to grow in confidence with Edinburgh's men twice coming close to breaking the deadlock.

First, Bradley Dack won a free-kick wide on the right with the creative schemer then whipping in a cross that Deji Oshilaja powerfully headed wide.

Then just minutes later, Ryan Jackson's long throw fell kindly in the box for Max Ehmer but the defender's strike was too close to Neil Etheridge who kept the ball out from point-blank range.

The home side's pressure was beginning to tell and in the 25^th minute, the Gills got their noses in front.

Oshilaja's long ball forward found Scott Wagstaff wide on right, with the winger then lofting a cross to the back post which McDonald nodded home.

Walsall's response was immediate with Kieron Morris darting into the box and seeing a strike well beaten away by keeper Jonathan Bond.

But they were still struggling to get out of second gear despite enjoying a sustained spell on possession in and around the Gillingham box as the half-time whistle approached.

And it was the hosts who almost doubled their advantage before the break with Chambers getting a vital touch to stop McDonad grabbing a second as he looked to hook home Wagstaff's knockdown for close range.

Gillingham created the first chance of the second half with Dack's teasing cross headed wide by McDonald.

Walsall had been far from their free-flowing best. But, out of nothing, they pulled themselves level on the hour mark.

Erhun Oztumer's low drive should have been held by Bond but the goalkeeper spilled the strike with Moussa reacting quickest to poke the ball home from close range.

Suddenly the Saddlers had a spring in their step, but it was the hosts who threatened next with Jackson slipping through McDonald only for Etheridge to dart of his line and smoother the ball to safety.

With 10 minutes remaining, James O'Connor picked up a yellow card for bringing down McDonald 25 yards from goal as the striker looked to have escaped his attentions.

From the resultant free-kick, Dack hitting a dipping and curling free-kick which Etheridge spectacularly tipped onto the bar before claiming at the second attempt.

Whitney made his first change with five minutes remaining – Josh Ginnelly coming on at the expense of goal scorer Moussa.

But the game continued to remain uneventful, with neither side closet to grabbing a late winner.