Milton Keynes 1 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

Scott Laird's first half goal looked to have propelled Jon Whitney's side to within a point of the play-offs in an entertaining clash at stadium MK.

But a last gasp Dean Bowditch strike snatched a point for the hosts, who have not won a league game in front of their own supporters in the last eight months.

That goal though should have been nothing more than a mere consolation with the Saddlers having a host of chances to put the game to bed.

Erhun Oztumer twice came close to doubling his side's lead after the interval while Simeon Jackson and Kevin Toner also threatened.

The result means the Saddlers are now unbeaten in their last six outings in League One but have dropped to 14^th in the table.

Whitney sprung a surprise in naming his starting XI with the boss keeping faith with the team that exited the FA Cup to non-league Macclesfield.

With Kieron Morris sidelined due to an ankle knock, Josh Ginnelly continued on the right-wing following an impressive performance in the Checkatrade Trophy win at Leicester.

Matt Preston also kept his place at the heart of the defence with James O'Connor only deemed fit enough for the bench.

For the managerless Dons, under the guidance of interim boss Richie Barker, ex-Saddlers centre-back Paul Downing started alongside Jack Hendry as the home side matched Walsall's 4-2-3-1 formation.

In what was a scrappy opening 25 minutes, both sides struggled to find any real rhythm with Walsall happy to sit back and try and catch their opponents on the counter-attack.

Slowly but surely though, Whitney's side started to see more of the ball and they came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock when Laird connected with a Ginnelly corner.

The defender's powerful header looked destined to hit the back of the net but Ed Upson was stood in the exact right spot to block the effort and prevent a certain goal.

Seconds later though and the Scunthorpe loanee was celebrating with the earlier chance just proving to be a warning of what was about to come.

Again the hosts were unable to deal with a fine Ginnelly delivery with Laird this time placing his header beyond the out-stretched arms of David Martin and into the far corner.

The goal saw the home side's confidence visibly seep away while Walsall, in complete contrast, grew in stature.

They should have doubled their advantage when Kevin Toner's header took a deflection and sailed inches wide from another Ginnelly corner.

And they went on to close out the half comfortably, with Whitney's men dominating possession and able to play the majority of their football high in the Dons half.

The home side came flying out the blocks after the interval with Ryan Colclough testing Neil Etheridge from 18 yards. Dean Bowditch then saw a stooping header claimed by the Philippines international.

But it didn't take long for Walsall to get back on top and they should have doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Oztumer stole possession high up the pitch.

The creative schemer darted into the box but with the goal at his mercy curled a strike wide from 10 yards when he should have scored.

Walsall were now rampant with Oztumer having another chance to put the game to bed following brilliant combination play for Ginnelly and Jason McCarthy.

The defender collected the ball on the overlap and sent in a low cross which the on-rushing Oztumer side-footed wide.

MK Dons hit back with Reeves hit a rasping drive from 20-yards which was palmed away by Etheridge. And from the resultant corner, Hendry rose highest but his header was expertly cleared off the line by Joe Edwards.

Whitney responded by bringing on Isaiah Osbourne and Amadou Bakayoko in a bid to shore things up.

But as the clock ticked towards the 90, the home side did manage to pull level with Bowditch curling home from the corner of the box to see his side grab a fortunate point.

Key moments

11 Ben Reeves collects the ball in the box before flashing a half volley inches wide.

27 Josh Ginnelly's corner is powerfully headed at goal by Scott Laird but Ed Upson is in the right place to block the effort and prevent a certain goal.

28 GOAL WALSALL. Ginnelly's cross is again met by Laird but this time the defender's header sails beyond the outstretched arms of David Martin and into the net.

34 Kevin Toner rises highest from a corner but his header takes a deflection and sails wide.

47 Ryan Colclough's 18-yard strike is parried by Neil Etheridge.

54 Ginnelly's wicked set-piece delivery flicks off a Dons defender and Martin makes a fine save to parry the ball away.

63 Samir Carruthers gives the ball straight to Erhun Oztumer who darts into the box before curling a low strike wide from 10-yards.

65 Oztumer crossed for SImeon Jackson who tried to side foot the ball home but the striker scuffs his effort and the ball goes wide.

69 Ginnelly finds Jason McCarthy on the overlap, he cuts it back to Oztumer but he side-foots wide of the far post.

69 Etheridge produces a fine save to deny Reeves from 25-yards.

70 From the resultant corner, Jack Hendry rises highest but his header is cleared off the line by Joe Edwards.

81 Colclough's deflected shot on the turn is acrobatically tipped over by Etheridge.

90 Dean Bowditch curls home from 18-yards to snatch a point for his side

Position in the table

League One: 14th

Teams

MK Dons: Martin, Baldock, Hendry, Downing (GB Williams 80), Lewington, Upson, Carruthers (Maynard 66), Agard, Reeves, Colclough (Tshimangaat 85), Bowditch.

Subs not used: Nicholls, GC Williams, Powell, Thomas-Asante.

Walsall: Etheridge, McCarthy, Preston, Toner, Laird, Chambers, Edwards, Ginnelly (Osbourne 84), Oztumer, Moussa, Jackson (Bakayoko 75).

Subs not used: MacGillivray, O'Connor, Cockerill-Mollet, Dobson, Sangha.