We had the best of the first half. Jorge Leitao was in great form hassling Crewe defenders, dispossessing them and starting raids on the Alex goal.  Wrack, Wales and Leitao all registered efforts on goal within the opening 10 minutes, it seemed as though we meant business. 

The best Leitao chance saw him failing to connect with a tricky low cross that evaded the Crewe defenders before Leitao failed to reach the ball. 

Crewe were looking dangerous on the break. The pace of Jones and Ashton was going to be a problem. Ashton saw a 20 yard effort sail wide on 10 minutes but Crewe failed to sustain any long periods of pressure on our goal. Instead it was the Saddlers who were keeping the ball well and creating openings out wide for Wrack, Birch, Zigor and Bazeley. 

The pressure paid off on 25 minutes when Crewe were failing to clear the ball on the edge of their area, the ball pinged about for a bit before Osborn created an opening for Leitao who tucked the ball away from just 6 yards out. 

The best Crewe chance of the game fell to Dean Ashton who forced Petterson to tip the ball over the bar with a great header on the half hour mark. The Saddlers could have made it two before half time when a Leitao run from the half way line saw him break in to the Penalty box, shoot from a difficult angle, force a save from Ince, then head the rebound back goalwards only for a Crewe defender to get back and clear the ball off the line. 

Half Time - Walsall 1-0 Crewe

Crewe came out positively in the second half. Jones registered an early effort on goal, and Crewe forced a series of corners. 

They were pumping balls in to the box looking for the sharp Jones and Ashton who were eager to get on the end of any crosses. 

The chances seemed to dry up for the Saddlers who were struggling to keep the ball and find the spaces they were exploiting in the first half. Gary Wales and Leitao were doing well up front for the Saddlers. Wales has a good first touch and their is a spark about his game. He is extremely industrious and could make a good partner for Leitao.  His movement was good, and as the rest of the team become used to how he plays he could prove to be a valuable member of the team. Wales had a decent chance on 20 minutes, but was thwarted by Ince.

Leitao had to leave the field through injury midway through the second half and was replaced by Matias, meaning Birch was pushed up front along with Wales. 

As Crewe pushed on a goal began to seem likely. A good ball in to the box caused problems, Petterson flapped but the Saddlers managed to clear. Minutes later another good ball in to the box saw Petterson flapping again, failing to make contact with the ball, presenting Crewe with a chance to equalise - which they duly did as Steven Foster headed home. 

In a desperate bid to get back in the lead Lee replaced the tiring Wales with Emblen. With 3 minutes left to play Pedro had a golden opportunity to put us back in the lead but blazed over from 12 yards. 

It had been a disappointing second half performance from the Saddlers who could have registered their first win since Boxing Day had they repeated their first half performance.

Full Time - Walsall 1-1 Crewe