Walsall FC 1 Brentford 1 - match report and pictures

The Saddlers also became only the second team to deny the Bees victory in the last 14 league games but could have taken all three points in an enthralling game.

Clayton Donaldson headed the visitors ahead from Jake Bidwell's cross after half-an-hour.

But Westcarr headed home on the stroke of half-time and it was the hosts who came closest in a superb second-half.

Romaine Sawyers saw a drive tipped over by visiting keeper David Button as the hosts pushed for a winner in the final 20 minutes.

And while there was an immense amount of pride to be had in the performance, there may be some disappointment they did not win it.

Dean Smith named an unchanged side from the one which beat Oldham on Tuesday. Instead the big news came in the opposition starting 11 where Will Grigg was given his first start since Boxing Day.

There were boos for the returning striker early on and then gasps when he latched on to a through ball and lobbed home keeper Richard O'Donnell but the linesman's flag was already raised.

Brentford looked slicker though the Saddlers did manage an attempt on goal from a corner, even though Andy Taylor sliced his shot horribly wide.

Andy Butler headed wide from a corner, while Milan Lalkovic hit a shot straight at visiting keeper David Button from 25 yards out.

Adam Chambers also tested Button with a shot from distance but on the half-hour it was the league leaders who took the lead.

Bidwell crossed from the left and Donaldson arrived in perfect time at the far post to power a header past O'Donnell.

Alan Judge saw a shot deflected wide as O'Donnell was forced to punch a McCormack cross clear. The resulting corner saw Kevin O'Connor head wide of the far post.

Just when it looked the hosts would trail at the break, they drew level in the final minute of the half. Brentford failed to clear a Westcarr corner and when Adam Chambers crossed the far post, Lalkovic nodded the ball back across goal and the striker headed home from three yards out.

Bidwell drove a free-kick over in the early stages of the second half before Marcel Trotta missed a glorious chance to restore the visitors' lead, hitting over from eight yards after Donaldson outpaced Andy Taylor down the right.

Lalkovic flashed a cross-shot across the face of Button's goal as the Saddlers pushed for a lead of their own.

The Saddlers lost left-back Taylor to an injury with 25 minutes to go. He was replaced by Mal Benning. Grigg made way for the visitors soon after to a chorus of boos from the home support.

Mantom dragged a shot wide from distance as the game entered the final 20 minutes before Sawyers was only denied by the fingertips of Button, who tipped over his powerful drive.

The Saddlers were looking the more likely to get the winner and Downing should have done better then head over when he arrived unmarked to meet a Westcarr corner.

Westcarr then fired over on the half-volley, while substitute Stuart Dallas shot wide just after coming on at the other end.