Sheffield United 1 Walsall FC 1 - match report

The hosts had taken the lead in controversial circumstances when Chris Porter fired home from the spot in first half stoppage time, after James Chambers was harshly adjudged to have handled.

But Westcarr levelled in the first 90 seconds of the second half when he headed home a James Baxendale cross.

Neither side could then find a winner in a game of few clear cut chances.

Indeed, the main talking point surrounded a first half which sparked to life in the closing stages with two huge moments of controversy involving referee Chris Sarginson. First, the official failed to award the hosts a spot-kick when Milan Lalkovic brought down Aidy White in the box but then redressed the balance in stoppage time when he harshly penalised Chambers for handball, allowing Porter to put the hosts ahead.

But the Saddlers levelled within the opening two mintutes of the second period, though they never really looked like going on to find a winnder.

For the first time in three games, Smith opted to change the starting line-up with Nicky Featherstone returning in place of Romaine Sawyers, who dropped to the bench.

After a delay of around five minutes due to a problem with the Bramall Lane fired alarm, which meant supporters could not start entering the ground until 7.20pm, the game got underway.

And after an opening quarter of an hour with little attacking play of note, the hosts almost snatched the lead. A Stephan McGinn corner was hacked off the line by Butler, after it had taken the slightest of touches off Conor Coady at the near post.

The Saddlers had to wait for almost another 20 minutes before having a shot, Baxendale firing wide from distance.

Baxendale saw another shot blocked, while Coady shot wide from distance.

Lalkovic was then unable to take the best chance of the half when he failed to chip Long after the keeper had been sold short by White, before he and the defender were involved in the first moment of huge controversy.

After losing out to White, the Saddlers striker appeared to lunge in and bring down his man as he advanced toward goal. But to the amazement of the home players, referee Sarginson signalled he felt the visiting player had got the ball.

But any injustice the hosts felt was eased in stoppage time, when Sarginson harshly adjudged Chambers to have handled a long punt into the box. Porter sent Saddlers keeper Richard O'Donnell the wrong way from the spot to hand the hosts the half-time lead.

It was a lead which lasted for all but 90 seconds of the second half as Westcarr put the Saddlers level, heading home a superb Baxendale cross.

The no doubt stunned hosts looked to quickly re-establish their lead but the Saddlers remained resolute in defence, despite loud appeals from the crowd any time the ball went into their box.

McGinn saw an intended cross beat everyone and sail just wide of the far post but otherwise O'Donnell remained untested during a good spell of pressure from the Blades.

Attempts on goal were at a premium but Saddlers substitute Ashley Hemmings did force a save from Long with an effort which took a slight deflection.

Substitute Lyle Taylor glanced a header just wide of the far post as the game entered the final ten minutes but both side had to settle for a point.