Walsall manager Chris Hutchings was delighted that his team kept a clean sheet in the goal less draw at Leyton Orient on Tuesday, the first time in over 20 games and whilst the draw was important to stop the alarming run of defeats the 114 hardy souls from Walsall who travelled to London for a midweek game were hardly impressed with the performance from such a dull game which saw The Saddlers drop another place to 22nd in the League One table.
It was very much a nervy performance from Walsall. John Macken had one early chance but his fustration was compounded when he got himself booked in that first half which was so needless. To be fair to him and fellow striker Rueben Reid they were starved of any service from the wide men as the accent was very much on not allowing Leyton Orient to score..
The home side came alarmingly more into the game in the second half and keeper Jonny Brain was called upon to make one vital save. Youngster Will Grigg came on for a disappointing Macken but he too had a job to get into the game. The games biggest talking point was the 89th minute penalty claim that was waved aside when Grigg who clearly had his shirt pulled in the box was denied. There again Walsall have not had a penalty awarded in their favour in over a year.
So a point obtained and the rot stopped but as a spectacle the game was frankly awful. The long-suffering fans can only hope for better things with two home games coming up starting with the visit of Yeovil Town this Saturday and Exeter City a week later.
