Morecambe 1 Walsall 1 - Report

Battling the stormy conditions, the Saddlers had the better of the first half action, going close through Zak Jules, while Jack Nolan was proving an effective creator.

Josh Gordon was awarded a slice of luck, after some good build-up play, to fire Walsall ahead after 37 minutes.

The hosts fought back in the second half, however, and after Elijah Adebayo missed a one-one-one - and Walsall were denied a clear penalty - Morecambe netted in the 80th minute. Carlos Mendes Gomes headed home from close range.

Morecambe were then denied a clear penalty of their own, on a bad night for the officials, as the teams shared the points.

Darrell Clarke made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Oldham on Saturday, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Stuart Sinclair, who scored the only goal when Walsall won away at Morecambe in September 2019, started in midfield as Alfie Bates dropped to the bench.

Surprisingly, Gordon started on the left wing and Wes McDonald moved into a central position.

With Jack Rose still injured, Liam Roberts started between the sticks and no goalkeeper was named on the bench.

Academy midfielder Sam Perry was given a place among the substitutes for the second game in a row.

George Nurse, James Clarke and Danny Guthrie were also not involved with injury, while Rory Holden is a long-term absentee with a knee issue.

Derek Adams named an unchanged Morecambe side, despite losing 2-0 to Leyton Orient at the weekend.

They started in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Former Wolves forward Liam McAlinden was among the substitutes.

The Saddlers had a half chance within the first minute. After Gordon won an early corner, Jules met the set piece but his shot was sliced over the bar.

Minutes later Jules went even closer - almost building on his goal from the weekend. A Nolan corner was met by the defender and his header, which was destined for the top corner, was headed off the line by Adam Phillips.

Roberts made a smart save to deny Cole Stockton and took a knock as a Morecambe player tried to follow up. After some treatment he was able to continue.

Liam Kinsella then made a superb tackle on the edge of the box to deny Stockton who had cut inside and was ready to take aim. The Walsall midfielder had made an outstanding start to the game, winning several loose balls while battling against the windy and rainy weather.

A scramble in box then saw Nolan play a neat reverse pass for McDonald, who was free in the box. The angle was tight on the right side but rather than cut his shot across goal, McDonald slashed his effort wide at the near post.

Nolan was almost the creator again moments later when his lofted cross was headed into the arms of goalkeeper Mark Halstead by Gordon. Nolan was found in the box by a good Hayden White pass.

As Walsall piled on the pressure the goal finally came after 37 minutes. Nolan again played a nice pass down the right to Adebayo who whipped in a magnificent cross across goal. Gordon slid in and his initial effort was saved onto the post but a slice of luck saw the ball pop back to him and he headed into the empty net from close range.

The hosts responded well to going behind and had a handful of set pieces but the Saddlers defence stood firm.

After a hit and miss start to the game for both teams, Walsall grew into the half and deserved their lead as they went into the break.

As the second half passed the 10-minute mark, neither team had control of the ball. The Shrimps had some opportunities, including a free-kick on the edge of the box, but none of them came to fruition. The weather, which was getting worse as the game ticked on, was making it difficult for any player to get the ball on the floor.

Despite that, Gordon did feed a through-ball to Adebayo who found himself in on goal on the right side. His low effort, aimed towards the far left corner, was just wide.

Roberts then saved his side and kept them in the lead when he palmed away an effort by Mendes Gomes from 10 yards.

Morecambe continued to push for an equaliser and were putting significant pressure on the Walsall defence through set pieces. After 66 minutes Cameron Norman replaced Nolan and although the right-back slotted in at right midfield, he did offer some more defensive rigidity for the visitors.

Despite that, Adebayo again had an opportunity to double Walsall’s lead. The ball fell to him from close range following a free-kick and with the goal gaping his effort was blocked.

Walsall were pleading for a penalty when Norman was brought down and despite the challenge seemingly coming within the box, the officials awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, which came to nothing.

Finally, in the 80th minute, Morecambe levelled. Ryan Cooney delivered a perfect cross from the right for Mendes Gomes who headed home from six yards.

After Walsall were denied a clear penalty, Morecambe were then denied one of their own. Dan Scarr pulled back Aaron Wildig as he raced in on goal but the officials were unmoved. Morecambe boss Derek Adams was then sent off for his reaction, which involved kicking water bottles.

The sides shared the points after a fiery end to the game.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, White, Scarr, Sadler, Jules, Nolan (Norman, 66), Kinsella, Sinclair, McDonald, Gordon, Adebayo.

Subs not used: Cockerill-Mollett, Bates, Perry, Osadebe, Wright, Lavery.

Morecambe: Halstead, Cooney, Lavelle, Knight-Percival, Hendrie, Wildig, Songo’o, O’Sullivan (McAlinden, 75), Phillips, Mendes Gomes, Stockton.

Subs not used: Da Silva Mendes, Slew, Diagouraga, Pringle, Gibson, Price.