Walsall welcomed MK Dons to WS1 on Tuesday evening as they looked to build upon last weekend's win over Bradford City, with the Saddlers hoping to get back into the top-half of the table.Walsall began the game brightly, with Ross Tierney playing in Aramide Oteh just two minutes into the contest, however, nothing would come of the chance as the midfielders effort was comfortably saved by MK Dons 'keeper and former Saddler, Craig MacGillivray.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Oteh and Tierney combining again moments later, to work the ball to Ryan Stirk, in shooting range, but his effort on goal from twenty yards out sailed high over the crossbar.
MK Dons had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where another former Saddler, Cameron Norman played the ball in for Ellis Harrison, whose shot on goal was gathered by Walsall shot-stopper, Owen Evans.
The visiting side continued to see much of the ball as the game continued, with Daniel Harvie seeing an effort fly high and wide of the target from outside the area in the seventh minute, moments before a Mohamed Eisa strike was blocked.
The Dons won a corner in the ninth minute, as Donervon Daniels turned a Harvie cross behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick or the one that followed moments later.
Things settled just a little as the game continued, though Walsall did win a corner in the eleventh minute which came to nothing.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, the visitors were presented with a chance to open the scoring as Joseph Tomlinson crossed the ball in for Alex Gilbey, but the Dons captain skied his effort.
The hosts won a free-kick up at the other end two minutes later, as Freddie Draper was fouled by Gilbey. Tierney swung a promising cross into the area, but a foul by Daniels ensured nothing would come of the opportunity.
Twenty-one minutes into the contest, Harvie crossed a teasing ball in for Ellis Harrison, but the strikers headed effort from the centre of the area was well saved by Evans.
Ellis Harrison became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the twenty-fourth minute for a foul.
Just three minutes later, Oisin McEntee joined him in the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned after kicking the ball away.
Both sides saw plenty of the ball as the game continued, without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences, although thirty-four minutes in, Isaac Hutchinson worked the ball to Liam Gordon in good position, but the defenders strike was well blocked by Norman, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Isaac Hutchinson joined those playing on a yellow card in the forty-first minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Warren O'Hora.
Walsall thought they had opened the scoring in the forty-third minute, as Draper slotted the ball past MacGillivray into the bottom corner, but an infringement of the offside rule in the build-up meant the goal would not stand.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still level.
The teams returned unchanged after the break and the action resumed. MK Dons began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just one minute in, as McEntee turned the ball out of play, but fortunately for the Saddlers, nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Walsall won a corner at the other end, five minutes into the half, but nothing would come of that either, as Harrison got his head to the ball and cleared the danger.
Harry Williams became the third Walsall player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for a foul on Eisa in the fifty-third minute. The resulting free-kick was taken by Eisa, but his effort sailed wide of the target.
Things settled as the game continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, though neither was able to create anything to trouble their opposition.
With sixty-six minutes on the clock, Alex Gilbey saw his name taken by the referee, as he was cautioned following a foul on Daniels.
Just one minute later, Cameron Norman joined him in the referee's notebook, as he too was cautioned following a foul.
MK Dons almost opened the scoring in the sixty-eighth minute, as Harrison attempted an acrobatic overhead kick, but Evans was alert to the danger and did well to make the save.
That would be Ellis Harrison's final contribution, as both he and Jack Payne were substituted moments later, with Matthew Dennis and Jonathan Leko taking their places.
Just four minutes later, Walsall chose to make their first change of the evening, as Aramide Oteh made way for Tom Knowles.
Fifteen minutes from time, the visiting side won a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Tomlinson played onto the head of O'Hora, but the effort lacked power and Evans was able to get down low to save it.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Knowles almost opened the scoring as he cut inside and fired an effort towards the bottom corner, but MacGilivray did well to get across and make the save, with the resulting corner being turned behind for a second, which came to nothing.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle as the game continued, with neither side carving out any real chances of note, though five minutes from time, Gordon did draw a save from MacGillivray.
Walsall opted to make their second change of the evening in the eighty-eighth minute, as Ross Tierney was replaced by Jamille Matt for the final few minutes.
Four additional minutes were added to end the game. The visiting side almost took all three points late in the game, as Leko worked the ball into the box for Eisa, but the striker sent his effort sailing over the crossbar.
Walsall also created a late chance to take the three points, as Knowles cut inside and fired goal-wards, but MacGillivray was able to make the save to deny him.
There was little further action of note, and the match was brought to it's conclusion with the sides each taking one point from the contest.
| AT | POUNDKAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | CHRISTOPHER POLLARD |