Solid Walsall avoid any slips in the mud - Match analysis

Any hope of a classic play-off six pointer were literally blown away as seventh-placed Walsall and sixth-placed Peterborough cancelled each other out on a horrid night at London Road, where the weather could be best described as good for motocross.

The Saddlers had the best of the opening half and forced some good saves from home keeper Bobby Olejnik. After the break, it was the Posh in the ascendency and they could have gone ahead had Britt Assombalonga shown better composure from six yards out.

But in reality, chances were few and far between and the draw was a fair result.

In terms of the play-off race, it's very much as we were but you have to believe the Saddlers will be happiest with the point. Dean Smith might have been bullish beforehand in his view the game was "must not lose" but victory would have moved Darren Ferguson's men five points clear, still with a game in hand.

Instead, the Saddlers are still breathing down their necks and there will be no lessening of the excitement building around the Banks's. Crawley, managed by former Villa boss John Gregory, visit next week before Smith's side launch into an eight-game March which will most likely define their season.

One huge plus point was the performance of James Chambers, back in the side after injury, which meant the absence of influential skipper Andy Butler through suspension went largely unnoticed. Alongside Paul Downing, Chambers ensured the hosts didn't manage an effort on target during the opening half, though Ferguson would later claim they were denied a "blatant" penalty when the former brought down Tommy Rowe.

Posh caused more problems after the break, but this was in part down to the conditions and with Ben Purkiss continuing his consistent form at right-back and Mal Benning again doing well in place of Andy Taylor at left-back, Walsall's strength in depth in defence was one again proved.

In attack, Michael Ngoo was handed his first start in place of Romaine Sawyers and while he didn't manage a goal, again showed flashes of his potential.

He certainly showed he has fight, which was the most important thing on a night like this.

With the game kicking-off in torrential rain and howling wind the opening 25 minutes were pretty much a write-off in terms of entertainment as both sides tried to adapt to the heavy conditions.

But when the chances did arrive they came to the Saddlers.

Ngoo's header from a Westcarr corner was the first of several decent efforts from the visitors. It was followed by a long-range shot from Sam Mantom which Olejnik was forced to parry and the home keeper was then relieved to see a Milan Lalkovic shot whistle inches wide of the far post.

The former Villa shot-stopper was solid without being convincing and made a slight hash of saving a low Febian Brandy shot before the ball was hacked behind. He did better with a Mantom drive from the resulting corner, keeping the impressive midfielder's shot out with his legs.

Opposite number Richard O'Donnell had fewer concerns in the opening period as the Saddlers makeshift back four, shorn of skipper Butler, did a fine job of restricting the hosts. Only once were they breached and even then, Assombalonga was flagged offside before crashing a shot into the post.

But O'Donnell was soon into the action in the second half, first stretching to hold a deflected Michael Bostwick shot and then saving smartly from the midfielder's sweetly struck drive.

Both home attacks were set-up by Saddlers passes which got stuck in the mud.

Moments later Assombalonga squandered the best chance of the night, tamely firing a loose ball at O'Donnell from six yards after the Saddlers goalkeeper had spilled Danny Swanson's shot.

That in truth was as close as either side came to winning it but the increasingly sloppy surface meant calamity always seemed just around the corner. It almost arrived when Downing missed the ball and substitute Conor Washington raced away. But Chambers was there to cover and Washington ended up shooting horribly wide.

The final 10 minutes brought a Saddlers rally as Romaine Sawyers saw a shot blocked and Brandy drilled an effort just over the bar. But there was no way through. Onward to Crawley.

Peterborough: (4-4-1-1): Olejnik, Nugent, Brisley, Knight-Percival, Alcock, Swanson (McQuoid 70), Bostwick, Payne (Washington 56), Rowe, Ajose, Assombalonga Subs not used: Baldwin, Vassell, Anderson, Little, McQuoid.

Walsall: (4-2-3-1): O'Donnell, Purkiss, Chambers J, Downing, Benning, Mantom, Chambers A, Brandy (Hemmings 90), Lalkovic, Westcarr, Ngoo (Sawyers 70) Subs not used: Featherstone, George, Hewitt, Lewis (gk).

Referee: G Horwood.

Attendance: 4,263.