Mat Sadler hails Walsall's "character" in Bromley draw

Bromley took the lead inside eight minutes when Ben Thompson curled a spectacular effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Substitute Levi Amantchi pulled Walsall level against his former employers on the cusp of half-time but Harry McKirdy restored Bromley's lead with a superb lob 10 minutes after the restart. 

Jamille Matt salvaged a point with his 12th goal of the season after he touched Connor Barrett's fizzing cross past Grant Smith with a near post volley. 

That point moved Walsall three clear at the summit although the chasing pack are all due to play on the weekend.

"There's not been too many times when we've gone behind in that manner but the first game against Bromley was a little bit of a ding-dong like this one in many ways. 

"I thought it was a performance full of character after around 30 minutes. The goal knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit and I just felt like we maybe played into their hands for the next 15 minutes. 

"We rode that and once we started getting into the front, I thought we looked a different team and their defence got deeper and deeper from that point onwards 

"It's disappointing we didn't win but I have to be proud of the performance and the character from our group. Another point away from home isn't a bad thing and we move on."

Ellis Harrison was forced off during the first half and replaced by goal scorer Amantchi in the 19th-minute. 

Sadler confirmed that the MK Dons loanee picked up a hamstring problem but was unable to provide any more detail at this early stage.

"No idea (how long he will be out for at the moment). He felt his hamstring so we'll have to wait and see," Sadler revealed.

Meanwhile, Connor Barrett will be suspended for the next two games in League Two.

The right-back, who registered his ninth league assist for Matt's equaliser, was shown his 10th yellow card of the season for a foul on Brooklyn Ilunga in the 81st-minute.

Walsall made five changes in total with Sam Hornby, Oisin McEntee, Evan Weir, Brandon Comley and Jamille Matt coming in from the weekend.

And Sadler felt it was the right time to freshen things up.

"I just wanted to freshen it up a little bit. I've been very concious of our eights and how much work has been put in by them with Charlie and the work that he puts in, and Jamie and the work that he puts in. 

"Taylor did very well in that position tonight, exemplified by the bit at the end there where he crosses brilliantly. 

"That counter-attacking pace that we had from our two eights is something that hopefully we'll see as the season wears on. 

"It just felt like a game to maybe freshen it up a little bit. It had been something I'd been thinking to do because of the squad we've got."