Walsall boss Mat Sadler reacts to "massive" point against Salford City

Danny Johnson emerged from the bench to rescue a point with a dramatic late double after Cole Stockton and Hakeeb Adelakun had fired Salford into a two-goal lead. 

Walsall stopped the rot following back-to-back defeats at Bradford City and Fleetwood Town but have seen their lead at the summit cut to seven points. 

Sadler felt the manner in which Walsall earned the point felt like a win and was disappointed that they didn't come away with maximum points.

He said: "Some points feel bigger than others. I'm disappointed we don't win that game, I thought we were much the better team and they were time wasting from the first 10 minutes. 

"The ref should've stamped down on that, it was clear for everyone to see. But I don't think anyone can say anything but credit to the group for keeping going, never giving up and to the supporters for doing exactly the same. 

"And those points and the manner of those points are massive. We all know there are going to be so many twists and turns in terms of how we pick up points. 

"This one in a way probably feels like a win but we certainly go home feeling like we left a couple of points out there. However, the manner of it says, ok we move on, what a team, what a group we've got." 

Walsall fell behind inside four minutes when Stockton controlled Adelakun's low cross and slid his finish past the onrushing Tommy Simkin. 

That was the third time they have conceded in the opening 15 minutes in the space of a week and Sadler admitted that it left them with a mountain to climb. 

"The frustrations from me and the things we have to do better. We can't concede early like we have there, like we did on Tuesday and the previous Saturday for that fact. 

"Then it allows Salford those moments on the counter-attack. But the nature of the game, you're hoping for that thing that sparks you into life and that's what we got."

Adelakun doubled Salford's advantage 15 minutes from time as the visitors looked destined to condemn Walsall to a third successive defeat. 

But the introduction of Levi Amantchi followed by the emergence of Evan Weir, Albert Adomah and Johnson from the bench eventually helped Walsall turn the tide. 

"It's my job to make sure everyone feels like they're going to have that moment and that they're playing a part in the team. 

"I'm a massive believer in that there's different times for different people and there's different moments in game where everyone is required. 

"Today for me as that game wore on, I saw a defence that was there to be scored against. We just needed to show that little bit of composure in the final bit which unfortunately comes after they've scored their second goal. 

"We're there to be shot at. Teams are going set-up in a different way, teams are going to have a goalkeeper take 40 seconds to take a free-kick. I suppose the thing for me is that we see the collective of what we we're here to do and have got to do."