Peterborough 1 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

Isaiah Osborne’s third goal of the season put the Saddlers ahead in the first-half in which they were the better side.

Ivan Toney pulled the hosts level shortly after the interval but Dean Keates’ side regrouped and went onto create chances that should have seen them win the game comfortably.

Josh Gordon headed straight at keeper Conor O’Malley from just a yard out following a wonderful cross from Kieron Morris.

Then in the 89th minute, Luke Leahy saw a penalty saved after Nicky Devlin had been fouled in the box.

And even after that the Saddlers created another glorious chance with Andy Cook bursting into the box only to see O’Malley deny him with a brilliant double save.

That meant Walsall had to settle for a point despite being comfortably the better side against a Peterborough outfit who still have eyes on automatic promotion.

ANALYSIS

Keates made two changes from the team that was thumped at Bradford when naming his starting line-up, with Josh Ginnelly not in the matchday squad after reports emerged he is closing in on a move to Preston.

Kane Wilson came into the side in his absence while Jack Fitzwater was restored at the heart of the defence with Russell Martin also not involved.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 4-4-2 formation with Wilson wide on the left, Kieron Morris on the right and Josh Gordon and Andy Cook up front.

Peterborough also lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Ivan Toney partnering Matt Godden in attack.

Conor O’Malley made his first league start in goal after Aaron Chapman was dropped following his display at Shrewsbury.

Meanwhile, right-back Jason Naismith was asked to fill in at centre-half after Ryan Tafazolli was ruled out through injury.

After their dreadful second-half display at Valley Parade, Walsall entered the game with Keates having demanded a response from his players.

And he got one with Walsall comfortably the better team in an opening 20 minutes within which they created two glorious chances to open the scoring.

The first saw Jon Guthrie meet a Luke Leahy corner only for the defender’s header to be claimed on the goalline by O’Malley.

Then from a Leahy long-throw, the ball was half-cleared to Wilson who saw a volley from eight-yards deflect narrowly wide.

It wasn’t until the half-hour mark that Liam Roberts was called into action with the keeper getting down to save a 20-yard strike from Toney.

That chance seemed to spark the game into life with Posh threatening again just moments later.

Louis Reed bent in an inviting cross which Toney met on the volley. But six-yards out the striker steered a side-footed effort wide when he should have hit the target.

Walsall responded with Liam Kinsella doing wonderfully well to collect a throw, beat his man and then whip in a dangerous cross.

The delivery was met by Wilson who sent a volley off-target. But Gordon flung himself at the ball only to see his effort also go wide.

Walsall had been the better side overall with Posh having gradually grown into the game.

But it was the Saddlers who grabbed the lead in first-half stoppage time when O’Malley came for - but missed - a hopefully Leahy ball into the box.

Devlin was then on hand to calmly nod the ball back into the danger area with Osbourne then placing a header past three defenders on the line and into the net.

Posh made a change at the break with Mark O’Hara replacing Read.

And just 60 seconds later the hosts were level with Toney heading a corner which Roberts arguably should have come and dealt with.

Determined not to let the hosts seize the initiative, Walsall responded instantly with Cook meeting a corner only to see his header blocked just in front of the goalline.

Keates’ men were now back on top and they threatened again when Osbourne found Kinsella in the box.

The youngster looked to arrow a drive into the bottom corner but it was blocked in front of his own goalline by a sliding Naismith.

For long periods after that chance, the game became something of a stalemate.

But in the 80th minute the Saddlers created a chance that should have seen them re-take the lead.

Morris delivered a cross which was on a plate for Gordon. But just a few yards out the striker headed straight at the keeper when anywhere else he would have scored.

The ball then fell for Wilson but with little time to react the Albion loanee fired wide on the angle.

While that was a gilt-edged chance, Walsall then went on to miss two more in the closing stages.

The first was a penalty with Nicky Devlin tumbled to the floor by O’Malley.

Leahy took the spot-kick and went for the same corner as his winning kick against Coventry.

But this time the keeper got down to push the ball away.

Then in stoppage time Cook charged into the box only to see a low effort saved by the glovesman.

The ball then fell back to the striker but the O’Malley somehow kept it out in what was a fantastic double stop.

TEAMS

Peterborough: O’Malley, Naismith, Daniel, Woodyard, Reed (O’Hara 46), Ward, Bennett, Maddison, Dembele (Cooper 77), Toney, Godden (Stevens 57).

Not used: Chapman, Lyon, Denton, Cummings.

Walsall: Roberts, Leahy, Guthrie, Fitzwater, Devlin, Morris, Kinsella, Osbourne (Dobson 73), Wilson, Gordon (Ferrier 81) Cook.

Not used: Dunn, Johnson, Edwards, Ronan, Ismail.