Dean Smith hails battling Walsall after Peterborough draw

The London Road surface survived an inspection before the League One play-off six-pointer was given the go ahead but the mud still made things tough for both teams.

And Smith was delighted with the attitude of his players as they claimed a point which keeps them seventh, two points behind the sixth-placed hosts.

"I was really pleased with the performance," said Smith. "I thought they were excellent and to come here and deny Peterborough a goal – because they are free-flowing, especially at home – is a credit to the team as well.

"I thought we were the better team in the first half and they have had some good chances in the second half, so it was probably a fair score.

"There was some decent football played at times, but you certainly had to play the conditions and the pitch was a quagmire."

Chances were few and far between for both sides. Sam Mantom and Febian Brandy forced good saves from home keeper Bobby Olejnik in the first half, while Britt Assombalonga fired straight at O'Donnell from six yards out for the hosts in the second period.

Smith was particularly pleased with the performance of James Chambers, who impressed at centre-back in place of suspended skipper Andy Butler, adding: "I think he can play that position with his eyes closed to be fair to him. He knows how to defend.

"If either team had gone and lost the game they would be disappointed because of what you have had to put up with. But it turned up a half decent game."