Walsall 0-0 Rochdale: Saddlers left frustrated in another goalless stalemate

Walsall were left frustrated after they were held to a successive goalless stalemate against Rochdale at Bescot.

Mason Hancock forced a near post save from Nils Ramming, before Aaron Pressley’s rebound was smothered behind.

Baba Adeeko hit the crossbar for Rochdale on the half-hour mark and Jed Ward plunged to his right to smartly deny Dajaune Brown.

James Connolly had a header scrambled off the line early in the second half, but Walsall ultimately had to settle for a third successive draw.

Lee Grant made three changes as Declan Skura, Sven Sprangler and Tai Sodje were recalled at the expense of Ryan Leak, Isaac Moore and Courtney Clarke.

It was a slow start as both teams seemed hesitant to make the first move, but Walsall gradually grew into the contest.

They finally broke the lines when Charlie Crew picked the ball up in a good position and threaded a pass into Sodje, but his tame effort was straight at Rochdale goalkeeper Nils Ramming.

The hosts came even closer when Hancock broke in behind and was denied at the near post by Ramming. Pressley pounced on the rebound, but his close-range finish was blocked behind.

Rochdale delivered a major scare on the half-hour mark when Adeeko’s punted effort from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar.

Ward was called upon for the first time five minutes before half-time and plunged to his right to expertly turn Brown’s low drive behind.

Connolly came agonisingly close to finding the breakthrough when he seized on Hancock’s rebound effort, but his header was scrambled off the line by Dan Moss.

Antony Evans clipped a cross in from the left, but Pressley rose above his marker and nodded off target, before Sodje turned his marker and forced Ramming into action.

Walsall were the team in the ascendency for large periods of the second half, but it was the final touch that often deserted them.

Substitute Lewis Simper had the best chance in the fifth minute of stoppage time when his overhead kick was saved by Ramming following a great run and cross from Hancock.

Next, Walsall face local rivals Port Vale in an early kick-off next Saturday.

Teams

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Ahui, Connolly (c), Skura, Hancock; Sprangler, Crew (Moore 62); Evans (Clarke 62), Sodje (Dallas 82), Smith; Pressley.

Not used: Wooster, Furlong, Burke, Simper.

Rochdale (4-2-3-1): Ramming; Tasker, Flint, Wilson, Moss (Maguire 85); Gilmour, Adeeko; Hannant (Middleton 65), Brown, Taylor (Smith 76); Dieseruvwe (Adebayo-Rowling 85).

Not used: Waller, Hayes,Henderson.

Other details

Referee: Jamie O’Connor

Attendance: