Analysis: Jekyll and Hyde performance but Walsall can take heart from Chesterfield fight back

And those difficulties deepened when Walsall threatened to fall apart inside the first 30 minutes in Derbyshire. 

Chesterfield looked dangerous on the front-foot and particularly threatened in the wide areas. 

Connor Barrett afforded Tom Pearce far too much space to fizz a low cross into the near post where former Walsall striker Will Grigg had escaped the clutches of his marker. 

Myles Roberts thwarted Grigg's initial effort but the Northern Irishman pounced on the rebound to stab home from a matter of yards.

Things went from bad to worse when Evan Weir was caught dawdling on the ball. Dilan Markanday punished him: stealing the ball before tucking his finish beyond the onrushing Roberts. 

Walsall looked shell shocked, and were guilty of making mistake after mistake, as frustration seeped in. It was difficult to see how they could recover from a dire first 30 to 40 minutes; but they did. 

Barrett raced down the right and clipped an inviting cross for Daniel Kanu to power his header into the roof of the net just before half-time. 

That extended his season tally to 15 goals in all competitions - including 12 in League Two. 

His goals continue to prove crucial and the timing of the goal was essential to providing Walsall with a platform in the second half. 

Jamille Matt had a difficult first half as he struggled to win his duels and proved wasteful in front of goal. 

The 36-year-old also picked up a hip issue which prompted Sadler to shuffle his pack at half-time, and most importantly, switch to a 3-4-3. 

Albert Adomah was introduced and rolled back the years with a scintillating, and instrumental second half display. 

The 38-year-old was at the heart of everything good for Walsall. He peeled out wide time and time again, and provided his side with an attacking outlet which they so desperately lacked in the first half. 

Suddenly, Walsall created overloads down the flanks, especially down the right through Barrett, Adomah and Alex Pattison. 

The midfield had practically been bypassed throughout the first half, but were able to have much more of an impact, as they got on the ball more after the break. 

New signing Alfie Chang had been outbattled in the first 45 minutes on his 'second debut' for the club, but looked much more assured after half-time. 

He dug Harrison Burke out of trouble on one occasion and set-up a good chance for Kanu after winning the ball on the press. 

Pattison was also able to link the play and Courtney Clarke shifted out wide, as Sadler tweaked the shape to guide the Saddlers back into the game. 

They had raised their levels from the first whistle of the second half and reaped their reward when Adomah marked his excellent 37-minute cameo from the bench with the all-important equaliser. 

Weir delivered a teasing free-kick into the box which was headed high into the air. Kanu won the second ball, knocking it down for Adomah to flick his header into the far corner. 

That moved Adomah into double figures for goals in his 18 months at Walsall and suddenly the tables had turned. 

Walsall looked like the side who were likeliest to score the winner and they played some brilliant football in the process. 

Paul Cook responded with the introduction of Lee Bonis among a flurry of other attacking changes and his changes almost caught Walsall cold. 

Roberts emerged to foil Bonis at his feet after he broke in behind and produced another outstanding save to plunge to his left and deny his low drive with a strong left glove.

That was just after Adomah had been forced to hobble off with a knee issue, although Sadler expects both Adomah and Matt to be "fine". 

The one gripe about the second half was the decision to take off Kanu in the 90th-minute. 

Aaron Loupalo-Bi was introduced and squandered a golden chance to secure maximum points in stoppage time when he dragged a close-range finish wide of the near post. 

Walsall have registered three draws in a row, but this one felt more like a victory considering the circumstances, whereas the previous two felt much more like defeats. 

They have dropped to seventh in the table, but maintained their four-point gap over Chesterfield in eighth. 

League Two leaders Bromley have stretched their lead over Walsall to 10 points - albeit having played a game more - while Swindon Town also leapfrogged them.