Walsall were held to a draw by League One bottom side Hartlepool United, despite dominating for much of the game.

The hosts had the best of the first-half chances, but Evan Horwood gave Pools the lead from the penalty spot.

Dean Holden equalised for Walsall from close in after the break, and only inspired goalkeeping from Scott Flinders denied the Saddlers a second.

Pools are without success in 19 games, while Walsall are now 14 without a win.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Hartlepool first-team coach John Hughes told BBC Tees:

"I'm a little bit hoarse, but that's because I'm shouting fundamentals to the players, things that should be a given on a football pitch, but it's my job to educate them.

"They're galvanised and there's certainly an improvement, there's still 20-plus games to go.

"We rode our luck at times, but I'm delighted with the effort and the commitment they put in and we picked up a point. We have to be solid, hard-working and resolute and we were. "

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Walsall

  • 32 Mccarey Booked
  • 02 Taundry Booked
  • 04 Butler
  • 05 Holden
  • 26 Taylor
  • 06 Featherstone
  • 11 Hemmings (Westcarr - 46' )
  • 27 Mantom
  • 09 Grigg (Bowerman - 77' )
  • 10 Paterson
  • 12 Brandy

Substitutes

  • 01 Grof
  • 22 Downing
  • 25 Chambers
  • 07 Chambers
  • 24 Baxendale
  • 17 Bowerman
  • 29 Westcarr

Hartlepool United

  • 01 Flinders
  • 05 Collins
  • 06 Horwood
  • 29 Hartley
  • 03 Humphreys
  • 07 Franks (Poole - 81' )
  • 11 Monkhouse
  • 15 Sweeney
  • 19 Richards Booked
  • 20 Murray (Noble - 52' )
  • 39 Howard

Substitutes

  • 32 Foden
  • 18 Baldwin
  • 22 Holden
  • 14 Luscombe
  • 10 Poole
  • 35 Noble
  • 36 Wyke
Ref: Williamson
Att: 4,562

Match Stats

Shots

20 5

On target

10 3

Corners

9 2

Fouls

9 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:29

Free kick taken by Evan Horwood.

90:00 +3:29 Booking

Booking The referee books Richard Taundry for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +3:20

Richard Taundry concedes a free kick for a foul on James Poole.

90:00 +0:54

Foul by Sam Mantom on Antony Sweeney, free kick awarded. Jordan Richards restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:11

Andy Taylor concedes a free kick for a foul on James Poole. Jordan Richards restarts play with the free kick.

88:37

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Paterson from the left by-line, Steve Howard makes a clearance.

87:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Butler by Sam Collins. Shot on goal comes in from Craig Westcarr from the free kick, blocked by Peter Hartley.

85:14

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Antony Sweeney, clearance made by Andy Butler.

84:58

Evan Horwood sends in a cross, clearance by Dean Holden.

82:32

Ryan Noble takes a shot. Comfortable save by Aaron Mccarey.

80:00

Direct free kick taken by Sam Collins.

80:00 Substitution

Substitution James Poole replaces Jonathan Franks.

80:00

Jamie Paterson challenges Antony Sweeney unfairly and gives away a free kick.

78:11

Febian Brandy has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.

77:41

The assistant referee flags for offside against Andy Monkhouse. Andy Butler restarts play with the free kick.

77:33

The ball is swung over by Evan Horwood.

76:29 Substitution

Substitution Will Grigg goes off and George Bowerman comes on.

76:03

Jonathan Franks delivers the ball, Dean Holden makes a clearance.

75:38

Handball by Antony Sweeney. Direct free kick taken by Richard Taundry.

75:24

The ball is swung over by Evan Horwood, clearance made by Andy Butler.

73:43

Shot on goal by Jamie Paterson from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

73:09

Craig Westcarr is caught offside. Scott Flinders takes the free kick.

71:36

Outswinging corner taken by Jonathan Franks from the left by-line, save by Aaron Mccarey.

71:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Mccarey by Steve Howard. Free kick taken by Aaron Mccarey.

70:35

Ryan Noble takes a shot. Save made by Aaron Mccarey.

70:02

Centre by Andy Taylor, Sam Collins makes a clearance.

69:18

Unfair challenge on Sam Collins by Andy Butler results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

67:44

Nicky Featherstone takes the free kick.

67:44 Booking

Booking Booking for Jordan Richards.

67:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Febian Brandy by Jordan Richards.

64:59

Right-footed shot by Sam Mantom missed to the left of the goal.

61:36

Jonathan Franks takes a shot. Andy Taylor gets a block in.

60:36

Corner taken by Sam Mantom, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Collins by Andy Butler. Scott Flinders takes the free kick.

59:44

Inswinging corner taken by Sam Mantom from the right by-line, clearance by Antony Sweeney.

59:36

Centre by Jamie Paterson, clearance made by Peter Hartley.

57:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Febian Brandy by Jordan Richards. Richard Taundry shoots direct from the free kick.

57:06

A cross is delivered by Jordan Richards.

56:11

Andy Monkhouse delivers the ball, Steve Howard takes a shot. Save by Aaron Mccarey.

55:00

Ryan Noble has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

53:33

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson played to the near post, clearance made by Ryan Noble.

53:07

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson from the left by-line, Sam Collins makes a clearance.

52:51

Craig Westcarr produces a cross, Sam Collins manages to make a clearance.

52:24

Jonathan Franks concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Mantom. Andy Butler takes the direct free kick.

51:36 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Noble is brought on as a substitute for Paul Murray.

50:58

Richard Taundry delivers the ball, save made by Scott Flinders.

50:13

Evan Horwood is caught offside. Aaron Mccarey takes the indirect free kick.

48:32

Will Grigg provided the assist for the goal.

48:32 Goal scored

Goal - Dean Holden - Walsall 1 - 1 Hartlepool Dean Holden scores a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Walsall 1-1 Hartlepool.

48:03

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson, save by Scott Flinders.

47:43

Andy Monkhouse is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Aaron Mccarey takes the free kick.

47:33

Sam Mantom sends in a cross.

46:40

The official flags Will Grigg offside. Scott Flinders takes the free kick.

46:06

The ball is swung over by Craig Westcarr, clearance made by Jordan Richards.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Craig Westcarr on for Ashley Hemmings.

45:00 +2:30 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +2:11

Corner taken left-footed by Ashley Hemmings, clearance made by Peter Hartley.

45:00 +1:50

Andy Taylor takes a shot. Blocked by Jordan Richards.

42:14

The ball is crossed by Jamie Paterson.

40:49

The assistant referee flags for offside against Evan Horwood. Richard Taundry restarts play with the free kick.

39:35

Peter Hartley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Febian Brandy. Centre by Richard Taundry, Headed effort from inside the area by Febian Brandy misses to the left of the target.

39:10

Andy Taylor sends in a cross, clearance made by Peter Hartley.

38:20

The ball is sent over by Richard Taundry, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Ashley Hemmings misses to the left of the goal.

36:55

The ball is sent over by Sam Mantom, save by Scott Flinders.

36:34

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson from the left by-line to the near post, Steve Howard manages to make a clearance.

36:16

Richard Taundry takes a shot. Blocked by Peter Hartley.

34:50

Will Grigg challenges Peter Hartley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Flinders.

34:04

Dean Holden takes a shot. Scott Flinders makes a comfortable save.

33:57

The ball is swung over by Jamie Paterson, clearance by Sam Collins.

33:33

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jamie Paterson.

32:07

Nicky Featherstone fouled by Ritchie Humphreys, the ref awards a free kick. Nicky Featherstone takes the direct free kick.

31:39

Nicky Featherstone fouled by Andy Monkhouse, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Butler.

28:07 Goal scored

Goal - Evan Horwood - Walsall 0 - 1 Hartlepool Evan Horwood scores a placed penalty. Walsall 0-1 Hartlepool.

26:52 Booking

Booking Aaron Mccarey goes into the referee's book.

26:45

Aaron Mccarey gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Steve Howard.

26:12

Jamie Paterson produces a cross, comfortable save by Scott Flinders.

24:31

Sam Mantom fouled by Paul Murray, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Paterson restarts play with the free kick.

23:11

Shot by Jamie Paterson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

21:32

Unfair challenge on Febian Brandy by Sam Collins results in a free kick. Jamie Paterson produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Scott Flinders.

20:13

The ball is sent over by Jordan Richards.

18:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ritchie Humphreys by Richard Taundry. Free kick taken by Evan Horwood.

17:21

Unfair challenge on Dean Holden by Andy Monkhouse results in a free kick. Richard Taundry restarts play with the free kick.

15:37

Jamie Paterson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

15:06

Centre by Evan Horwood, Andy Taylor manages to make a clearance.

11:20

Jamie Paterson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

11:12

Richard Taundry delivers the ball, clearance by Peter Hartley.

9:13

Febian Brandy takes a shot. Save by Scott Flinders.

8:54

Febian Brandy takes a shot. Sam Collins gets a block in.

8:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ashley Hemmings by Paul Murray. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Featherstone.

6:42

The offside flag is raised against Febian Brandy. Scott Flinders restarts play with the free kick.

6:15

Richard Taundry delivers the ball, Close range headed effort by Febian Brandy goes wide of the left-hand post.

5:46

Sam Mantom takes a shot. Blocked by Peter Hartley.

5:16

Sam Mantom takes a shot. Blocked by Sam Collins.

2:29

Febian Brandy is caught offside. Scott Flinders restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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