Walsall 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report and pictures

Stefan Payne netted from the spot after 20 minutes to cancel out Walsall’s 13th minute lead.

But the hosts were unable to put a chink in Town’s unbeaten armour as Paul Hurst’s side made it 12 without defeat in the league in what was an ultimately fiery but cagey derby occasion.

The draw made it 13 without a win for Shrewsbury at Walsall.

Second-place Wigan won 2-1 at Scunthorpe, meaning Town's lead from the Latics was cut to two points.

Analysis:

Shrewsbury were gunning for their first win in 12 at the Banks’s Stadium. Not since Dean Spink’s winner in 1993 had Town tasted success here.

It wasn’t the only dozen riding on today’s outcome. Hurst’s side were looking to make it 12 unbeaten in the third tier or higher for the first time since the 1959/60 season.

But the visitors travelled in outstanding form. Boasting a four-point lead before kick-off.

It was a monumental afternoon for Town goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, who joined Shrewsbury on a free from Walsall this summer.

He was between the sticks due to Dean Henderson’s involvement with England under-21s. Walsall’s key international figure, Tyler Roberts - a Salop loan favourite last season - made the bench as he was granted leave.

With Hurst expected to return to the team used for most of his unbeaten league, the one surprise was winger Shaun Whalley dropping to the bench, he was replaced by Louis Dodds.

Jon Whitney’s Saddlers, while struggling for consistency overall this term, went into the game unbeaten on home turf. But they were missing experienced, influential figure Adam Chambers with a minor injury.

Hurst, who landed the September manager of the month prize yesterday, and his side were backed by a tremendous Salopian following. More than 1,500 tickets had been sold by Friday, with more coming along on the day.

Even former Town golden boy Ryan Woods turned up in a booming away end.

The tempo to the opening few moments was anything but booming, as both side’s shared territory with no goalscoring moments to speak of.

It took until 13 minutes for anything to shout about - and it went the way of the hosts.

It was Burnley loanee Dan Agyei that popped up with a moment of magic. His pass was initially cut out by Toto Nsiala but Agyei then stepped up to bend a delicious, dipping effort over the helpless MacGillivray and in.

Town had been behind on just three occasions in the league prior this season, games against Rochdale, Oxford and Doncaster totalling just 21 minutes.

They have been able to react and they did it again. The wonder-strike woke Hurst’s men up and they were quickly snapping into challenges and winning 50-50s.

And the visitors were behind for just seven minutes at the Banks’s. Dodds and Junior Brown were beginning to link-up to great reward down Town’s left. Brown send Dodds clear on the angle inside Walsall’s box and the Town No.10 lifted the ball over keeper Mark Gillespie.

Dodds’ lob was met by the powerful figure of Payne inside the box, and Shrewsbury’s hitman climbed above his marker Jon Guthrie to head into the empty net.

But Guthrie’s flailing arm blocked the header and after a little deliberation ref Graham Salisbury pointed to the spot. Town’s players, management and crowd screamed for a red card.

It brought debate about the ‘double-jeopardy rule’, in which a red card is not deemed necessary following a penalty decision if the attempt was not deemed deliberate.

The officials debated but no card was forthcoming. It mattered little to Payne, who send Gillespie the wrong way for his seventh goal of the season.

A smoke bomb accompanied the wild scenes behind and to the left of the goal Town attacked. All the momentum was with the visitors.

Shrews clicked into gear and looked like their confident selves with the ball, the re-called Dodds at the heart of much of it. But despite enjoying the ball, they fashioned little immediately after drawing level.

When the chances next came it was Payne in the spotlight. With a little over 10 minutes left of the opening half, the strike broke onto a through ball, easily rounded Gillespie but, with a wide angle, he was dramatically denied on the line by covering defender Roberts.

Moments later Payne rattled an unstoppable volley high beyond Gillespie and in. Sadly for euphoric Town fans behind the goal, the assistant’s offside flag had long since been raised.

Walsall edged back into proceedings before the break but were unable to carve Shrewsbury open with Nsiala, Mat Sadler and MacGillivray standing firm.

The second period began more like a chess match than a thunderous derby, with both sides getting a feel for how their opposite number shaped up.

Both sets of fans tried to get involved in rallying the troops but chances on goal were at premium.

Payne was always a threat and burst on to a loose pass after the hour mark but his strike from distance had the sting taken from it.

Whitney opted for Welsh youth international Tyler Roberts from the bench midway through the second-half.

Hurst’s roll of the dice came 15 minutes from the end of a cagey and tight second period. Rodman was hauled off for fellow winger Whalley, while Carlton Morris was sent on for Dodds.

Town’s two frontmen Payne and Morris went up front together in search of some change from Walsall’s three-man defence.

Tyler Roberts was a menace at times but his low strike from distance at MacGillivray moments from time was just about the only save either goalkeeper made in the second-half.

But as the clock rolled onto 90, MacGillivray was called into a dramatic save on his old stomping ground. He reacted excellently to deny Roberts’ downward header as the hosts attempted a late flurry. Oztumer was inches away from connecting to a low cross in added time but the points were shared.

Key moments:

13 - Goal! A Walsall screamer, Burnley loanee Dan Agyei smashes in over Craig MacGillivray from 30 yards.

17 - Penalty! Junior Brown sends Louis Dodds away down the left, his lob over Mark Gillespie is ideal for Stefan Payne who climbs above Jon Guthrie, but his header is blocked by Guthrie’s arm!

20 - GOAL TOWN! Payne buries the penalty to the keeper’s left.

34 - Payne rounds Gillespie superbly but is forced wide and his low finish cleared off line by Kory Roberts.

36 - Payne thunders a volley in but is ruled offside while Shrewsbury fans were celebrating like crazy.

89 - Massive chance for ex-Town man Tyler Roberts but his downward header pushed over by Craig MacGillivray.

90 - Erhun Oztumer is unable to connect to a left-sided Walsall cross.

Teams:

Walsall (3-5-2):

Gillespie; Wilson, K Roberts, Guthrie; Devlin, Morris, Edwards ©, Oztumer, Leahy; Agyei (T Roberts, 68), Bakayoko

Subs not used: Roberts (gk), Flanagan, Ismail, Kouhyar, Shorrock, Candlin

Shrewsbury (4-1-4-1):

MacGillivray; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Brown; Godfrey; Rodman (Whalley, 75), Nolan, Ogogo ©, Dodds (C Morris, 75); Payne (Gnahoua, 89)

Subs not used: Gregory (gk), Riley, Beckles, Adams

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 5,971 (1,643 Shrewsbury fans)