Walsall 2 Crewe 2 - analysis

For all their smart possession and dominance, the Saddlers were again guilty of the cardinal sin of football.

Failing to send Crewe down without a hope of recovery was the Saddlers' biggest crime as they blew a 2-0 lead on Saturday.

It was the second straight home game where they had lost a two-goal advantage as the Railwaymen played their get out of jail card in injury time through Chuks Aneke.

Walsall couldn't even cite mitigating circumstances after racing clear before being unable to defend their lead.

The evidence leads people questioning what the team can do and where it can go this season. Avoiding relegation is the No.1 priority and they are well placed to do that – but the recent run naturally leads to more questions than answers.

And the results, rather than performances, are just threatening to take the gloss off what has been a super start.

Four winless home games leads to inescapable disappointment.

It was a difficult summer for manager Dean Smith after he was shorn of players he wanted and rid of those he didn't and it is important to keep a degree of perspective.

Most would be lying if they said they wouldn't have accepted the start.

The Saddlers are no longer the surprise package they were at the beginning of the season, but now need to progress.

Smith was reluctant to talk about possible reinforcements in an admirable show of loyalty to the players. With a thin squad, though, he will have to look to loans should the current run continue.

To call them faltering would be a tad harsh, as performances have barely dipped from those which brought results at the start of the campaign.

But, for all their passing, all their possession, points count and they tossed away two which seemed in the bag.

Nicky Featherstone's second-half withdrawal raised eyebrows after the midfield general had patrolled in front of the Saddlers back four. Walsall lost the extra man to stifle and choke the life out of Crewe, who took full advantage.

George Bowerman's demotion was briefly questioned but it was the right decision to take the hitman out of the firing line.

He admitted in the week he hadn't been at the peak of his powers and, after four goalless games, Smith changed it.

It will be a big season for the 20-year-old, who just 18 months ago was on loan at Redditch and facing his last chance.

He has earned the plaudits but may have to wait for his next big chance after Will Grigg's impressive outing. The 21-year-old, fresh from the euphoria of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying draw in Portugal, showed he could lead the line.

Bullish and bustling, he hassled and harried the Crewe defence and only the reactions of Alan Martin denied him a second- half goal.

As a striker he hasn't scored often enough but, with two in his last four and another fine performance on Saturday, the Saddlers will hope he can start to fulfil his potential.

Grigg's movement and constant menace earned Florent Cuvelier the goal to put the Saddlers 2-0 ahead after just 25 minutes.

Cuvelier himself had teed up Jamie Paterson for the early opener with a crunching tackle and a delicate through-ball as he demonstrated his contrasting qualities.

He led the Saddlers during an opening onslaught as Crewe were out-gunned and out-thought by the slick hosts.

But the visitors pulled one back three minutes before the break when Mark Ellis prodded in.

It was a lifeline they barely deserved and it rocked the Saddlers, who couldn't re-create their early dominance after the break.

Crewe should have been awarded a penalty when Andy Taylor clumsily felled Aneke 10 minutes from time.

But if the Saddlers thought they had escaped, they were wrong. Mathias Pogba glided past Richard Taundry and Aneke headed in at the death.

By Nick Mashiter