Lincoln City 1 Walsall 1 - match analysis

Sporadically, the siren would go off to rouse the home crowd, but George Bowerman finally silenced the growing noise which threatened to shatter Saddlers' FA Cup dreams and further harm the season.

Sloppy, sluggish and almost embarrassed, Walsall only sneaked a draw at Sincil Bank on Saturday as, in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral, Bowerman's divine intervention rescued a first-round replay.

It was Walsall's get out of jail card and Dean Smith admitted it was an afternoon he will be happy to forget in a hurry. Too right.

The knock-out competitions have not been kind to Walsall in recent years. The fact their best result was being handed a bye in the first round of this season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy says it all.

Port Vale, Dagenham, Luton, Bury, Chesterfield – a veritable who's who of also-rans – have dumped the Saddlers out of a variety of competitions in the last few years.

And Lincoln, 53 places below Walsall in the football pyramid, almost added themselves to an undistinguished list after Jamie Taylor's excellent chip gave the Imps a deserved lead.

It was one they held – and looked like keeping given Walsall's slapdash display – until Bowerman nodded in five minutes from time for his seventh goal of the season.

To say it was merited would be pushing it but, despite their carelessness, the Saddlers were never dead and buried.

Ultimately, Cup football is about progression and Walsall have given themselves a second chance.

A classic it was not and it extended Saddlers' winless run to eight games, although there are still reasons to be cheerful.

In a perverse way the last two draws – at the outposts of Bury and Lincoln – could be key in turning the corner.

Previously the Saddlers had performed and got nothing but at Gigg Lane and Sincil Bank they were poor – really poor on Saturday – but scraped a draw.

It is that grit, determination and character which should see the end to a run which has now halted the early momentum.

They were forced to really work for their replay in Lincolnshire and, while they played badly, they got a result. That alone is something to cling to.

Three home games in a week – starting with Scunthorpe's visit tomorrow – represent the chance to restore the feel-good factor.

Patience, though, is wearing thin for the first time this season and Smith knows he will be judged on results.

Uninspiring draws will not cut it and the Saddlers must avoid another winter of discontent.

Smith's new two-and-a-half year deal allows the club to build but the proof and product is on the pitch and there needs to be serious improvement from Saturday.

Without Florent Cuvelier – sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury – Walsall lacked life, spark or the ingenuity to open up a side 19th in the Blue Square Premier.

Dean Holden shot over early on but the insipid Saddlers faded as Lincoln took advantage.

First Alan Power shuddered the bar from 15 yards and Gary Mills' follow-up was turned wide by David Grof before the keeper claimed Jake Sheridan's effort.

Lincoln grew in confidence as Walsall, impotent going forward and shaky at the back, retreated.

Livewire Taylor – surely Football League-bound given his performance – edged Lincoln ahead in first-half stoppage time with a brilliant 12-yard chip.

Grof was stranded as he turned Andy Butler and dinked the most impudent of finishes over the keeper.

It lit up an instantly forgettable half and he almost added a second 11 minutes after the break but Grof saved his low snap-shot.

The Imps were comfortable against Walsall's lethargic attacks but failed to test Grof again and, almost inevitably, the Saddlers scored with their one chance of the second half.

Richard Taundry's long throw was flicked on and Bowerman guided a clever header into the corner.

It kept them in the Cup but Walsall need to ensure the alarm isn't just on snooze.

By Nick Mashiter