Walsall went into this game at bottom club Stockport County hoping to obtain a win which would have almost secured their League One status for next season. The Hatters had not scored in nine and a half hours of football so they were there for the taking. Walsall made a couple of changes from the team which lost at Exeter the previous week with Dwayne Mattis in for Josh O'Keefe and Darren Byfield for Alex Nicholls.
The home side started lively and Walsall keeper Rene Gilmartin was called into early action making a couple of useful saves.Walsall had one early chance with Julian Gray chancing his luck with a shot with a shot which went wide. On 18 minutes with Stockport threatening to score, striker Troy Deeney flung himself at the ball, almost on the goal line. The ball appeared to strike his body but the referee pointed to the spot and reached out for his red card. A startled Deeney indicated the ball hit his thigh but it cut no ice and he had to go.
Former Saddler Jabo Ibhere stepped up to smash the ball home. Inspired County sent in a succession of shots and crosses and were winning corners. Not much was seen of Walsall for the rest of the half. However within two minutes of the second half Saddlers got back in the game thanks to winger Julian Gray who slotted home his second goal in as many games thanks to a header from Manny Smith who lined him for a volley. It was a real bonus to score so early after half time but that was more or less it from Walsall. Shot after shot was blocked or saved and somehow Walsall hung on to record a draw.
