Walsall 0 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

Town’s 25-year wait for a win at Walsall goes on but the 800-strong away following, including chairman Roland Wycherley and chief executive Brian Caldwell, will have liked the fighting spirit they saw from John Askey’s team.

Salop remain on just one League One win for the season after clocking up their sixth draw - the joint highest in the division.

The hosts had the better of a thrilling 0-0 but squandered multiple chances while Joel Coleman made some inspired saves.

Askey’s men had their own fair share of opportunities to nick a winner but were happy with the point they took back up the M54.

For the first time this season Askey lined his Shrewsbury team up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Aaron Amadi-Holloway as the lone striker and Lee Angol again on the left flank.

The visitors’ one change saw Alex Gilliead replace Greg Docherty. Gilliead took up a more unfamiliar position on the right side of an attacking three supporting Shrewsbury’s frontman.

Askey went into the clash knowing that a first win at the Banks’s Stadium in a quarter of a century will help his stuttering side make their mark.

Town had won just one League One game from their opening 10 games this season, having failed to extend that record as they squandered three points late on against Gillingham.

The hosts have enjoyed an encouraging start to the season under Dean Keates. They went into the game in seventh despite having not won in four home games - including two straight Bescot defeats.

Docherty had said Town’s wait for Banks’s Stadium win was ‘too long’ and the failure to do so in 13 attempts was an extra motivation for Askey’s visitors.

The game started at a quick pace and was proving easy on the eye, helped by the torrential rain in the West Midlands ahead of kick-off.

Both keepers were busy and drawn into decent starts on a slick surface inside 10 minutes. Whalley was drifting into pockets of space outside the Saddlers box and tested Liam Roberts with a fierce low half-volley before Joel Coleman got across to his top corner to keep out Zeli Ismail’s free-kick.

Whalley was impressing with more freedom to operate and the winger curled inches over the angle before former Salop youngster Josh Ginnelly haplessly fired into the away end after Coleman scooped Ismail’s shot into the air.

The frenetic opening didn’t settle and Ollie Norburn was again unafraid to let go from distance. His third effort of the nice was arrowing for the bottom corner and saved superbly by Robers.

Town grabbed the initiative and began winning second balls, causing groans from the home crowd. Norburn wanted a penalty midway through the first half, referee Graham Salisbury played on and Angol’s deflected strike just found the side netting.

The breathless tussle wouldn’t settle and Ismail helped a good chance over at the back post before superb Anthony Grant defending denied the hosts. Ginnelly was played clear on the inside left of the box, his crisp finish beat Coleman but Grant got back to somehow clear from the line.

Moments clear Morgan Ferrier somehow headed wide while totally unmarked in the Town box. Keates’s men were wasting valuable chances while Town had lost their way.

But, crucially, Askey’s men got in level at the break after riding waves of Walsall attacks - even going close themselves when Jack Fitzwater made a crucial block on Gilliead.

Amadi-Holloway, on the fringes in the first half, burst into life after the break and his cross picked out Whalley after a burst from halfway but Town’s winger lacked composure and his effort flew over.

The hour mark brought chances at both ends. Shrews’ goal continued to live a charmed life after Luke Waterfall cleared George Dobson’s shot off the line after a Coleman parry. At the other end Omar Beckles danced through but couldn’t pick out a forward ready to pounce.

Town continued to hang on as Coleman made a fine one-on-one stop to deny Ginnelly. The visitors then showed a lack of composure as a counter found Norburn on the left side of the box but Nicky Devlin made a huge block.

Askey’s first change, after the hour, replaced Gilliead with Josh Laurent as Whalley returned to his familiar right wing position.

The initiative swung back Town’s way as the enthralling clash entered its final third.

The second half was not as end-to-end as the first and a serious head injury to Isaiah Osbourne - caused by Grant smashing the ball in his face - meant momentum for both sides was halted as it ticked beyond 80 minutes.

Ginnelly nearly haunted his former side with five minutes to go. His fizzing effort flew inches over Coleman’s angle before the keeper beat away Luke Leahy’s stinger.

As the game entered its final minute Town broke through Whalley and Norburn and Angol were denied by superb Roberts goalkeeping.

There was still time for Coleman to make another added time to deny Leahy but Town clung on to a crucial and morale-boosting clean sheet.

Walsall (4-4-2):

Roberts; Devlin, Guthrie, Fitzwater, Leahy; Ginnelly, Osbourne (Kinsella, 83), Dobson ©, Ismail; Cook, Ferrier.

Subs not used: Dunn (gk), Morris, Johnson, Wilson, Gordon, Ronan.

Shrewsbury Town (4-2-3-1):

Coleman; Emmanuel, Waterfall, Sadler ©, Beckles; Grant, Norburn; Gilliead (Laurent, 65), Whalley Angol; Amadi-Holloway (John-Lewis, 90+4).

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Docherty, Okenabirhie, Bolton, Barnett.

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 4,555 (806 Town fans)