Analysis: Walsall must find a way to turn draws into victories

Mo Faal was handed his debut at the expense of the injured Danny Johnson, while Owen Evans was recalled between the sticks for his first start since November, as Jackson Smith surprisingly dropped to the bench.

The Saddlers dominated the early possession and Daniels continued his role as a free roaming centre-back with a number of runs into enemy territory.

His first contribution was a floated pass over the top of the Sutton defence, which Douglas James-Taylor was unable to take advantage of with a tame header into the grateful grasp of Dean Bouzanis.

But Daniels showed the technical prowess of a striker when he started and finished a classy move with 18 minutes on the clock.

The Walsall captain drifted forward and found Jack Earing operating between the lines. Liam Gordon received in space on the left and returned the ball in-field to Earing on the edge of the box.

Daniels anticipated Earing’s tidy back-heel with a clever run, before dancing past a couple of challenges and slamming an unstoppable strike into the far top corner.

It was the ultimate reward for Walsall’s early work, but they were unable to build on that, as captain Craig Eastmond restored parity for Sutton within five minutes of falling behind.

Daniels revealed in his post-match interview that Walsall had worked on defending long throw-ins due to the threat posed by Sutton right-back Ryan Jackson.

But Faal failed to make the first contact at the near post and the ball ricocheted off Tom Knowles and into the path of Eastmond. His low effort took a heavy deflection to wrongfoot Evans and nestle into the bottom corner.

Walsall dropped deeper from that point onwards and ceded the initiative. Sutton looked to capitalise and had a clutch of chances to take the lead.

Charlie Lakin fluffed his lines from point-blank range and Eastmond scooped a presentable opportunity over the crossbar.

Evans, whose distribution was sloppy throughout, was caught on the ball by the onrushing Lee Angol. The Welshman was able to save his own blushes, as he scampered back to claw behind in the nick of time.

It was an anticlimactic end to the first half for Walsall, but it could’ve been worse had Lakin’s spinning half-volley from the edge of the box bent inside the far post.

Instead, Walsall headed into the break on level terms, and Sadler looked to rediscover their attacking impetus with the introduction of Jamille Matt.

James-Taylor made an early exit after an ineffective display and Matt provided more of a presence in the final third with his hold-up play.

Isaac Hutchinson, who struggled to impact the game during the first period, suddenly found himself on the ball more in the final third.

Yet his promising combination play with Knowles was marred by the sub-par service into the forwards. Knowles failed to beat the first man with his crosses time and time again, and Hutchinson released his cross too late when Matt found himself completely unmarked inside the box.

Faal showed glimpses of his ability, and could be a real handful for defenders once he had bedded into the side. But he should’ve capped his debut with a goal when Earing raced down the right and squared the ball into his path, but the 20-year-old slotted his finish wide of the post from close range.

The Albion loanee was replaced, and Josh Gordon came on for his Bescot return in the 65th minute to provide a different dimension in attack.

His audacious overhead kick almost caught out Bouzanis in the Sutton goal, while Matt was unable to sort out his feet when he was picked out by Liam Gordon, as Sam Hart swept the ball to safety.

Priestley Farquharson and David Okagbue were immense throughout and constantly kept Sutton at bay whenever they threatened to open up the Walsall defence.

Brandon Comley also produced another strong performance, with his cover play enabling Daniels to venture forward.

But despite Walsall’s attacking endeavours, a frustrating theme continued to prevail with Hutchinson and Knowles even bumping into each other inside the box during the closing stages.

Sadler possibly should have turned to his bench once more with Ross Tierney and Ryan Stirk as possible options to turn the tide.

He elected not to and a difficult afternoon was compounded when Hutchinson was denied a penalty, despite clearly having his shirt pulled inside the box by Harry Beautyman.

Sutton, who produced a gritty and determined display, earned a deserved point.

They stifled Walsall’s attacking play, just as they did with Barrow and Mansfield Town, but the Saddlers need to find a way of winning these types of games if they want to climb the table.