THE SADDLERS were denied victory by a late equaliser after goals from Matty Fryatt and Jorge Leitao had seen us come from behind against Southend United at a soggy Bescot Stadium. 

A positive run and stinging shot by Matty Fryatt in the fifth minute was only parried by Darryl Flahavan in the visitors' goal into the path of Jorge Leitao who hit the rebound wide from a good position.

With the rain falling for most of the day, The Saddlers were attempting to pass the ball around on the greasy surface in the opening exchanges.

There was a dangerous corner whipped in on the quarter-hour mark which caused problems for the Southend defence and ended with Darren Wrack seeing his effort cleared in front of goal by Wayne Gray who was back to help his defence.

The visitors started to gain momentum as the half went on, seeing more of the ball but rarely troubling Andy Oakes' goal.

Another dangerous Saddlers' corner on 26 minutes was headed over by Matty Fryatt from in front of goal but generally the conditions were making it difficult for the players, with the game in need of some inspiration from somewhere.

The last real action of the half saw Craig Pead work hard down the right to get in a cross that was met by Leitao but the ball flew well wide of the target.

The second period started in the worst possible way for Walsall as the visitors took the lead within the opening three minutes as Carl Pettefer set Kevin Maher away down the right and his cross was met by the head of Gray to beat Oakes.

The Saddlers attempted to get straight back into it but Wrack hit the side-netting from a good position.

A sharp turn by Freddy Eastwood on the hour-mark following an energetic break by the visitors saw the ball flash just inches wide as Paul Merson's men still searched for some kind of spark.

There was a double substitution shortly afterwards as Steve Staunton came on for his Walsall League debut to replace Julian Bennett, whilst Paul Smith made way for Simon Osborn.

The equaliser came on 68 minutes as Daniel Fox delivered a high ball to the far post where Fryatt rose the highest to find the back of the net.

Boosted by the goal, it didn't take long for The Saddlers' second to arrive as a free-kick was played down the left and as the ball eventually found its way across goal, Leitao was presented with an opening from close range and he made no mistake to send the home faithful wild with delight.

There was fresh impetus injected into Walsall's play and Fryatt tried his luck moments later with a low shot that Flahavan managed to get his body behind.

With around a quarter-of-an-hour to go a short corner found its way to Fox whose cross picked out Fryatt in space but he couldn't direct his header goalwards.

At the other end, a low drive by the lively Eastwood landed just wide with Oakes scrambling across his goal.

There was some brave goalkeeping by Flahavan two minutes later as he gathered under pressure from Fryatt after Leitao had done well to flick on a corner. The Southend custodian came to the rescue again in the 80th minute as this time he claimed at the feet of Kris Taylor who was looking to burst through the middle.

Wrack was booked for a reckless challenge out wide as the clock ticked down but there was still time for the visitors to equalise in the closing stages as a cross from the right was met by a towering header from the experienced Shaun Goater who found the net on his Southend debut to make it 2-2.

It was a crushing blow for The Saddlers but as we pushed forward in injury time, Leitao's stooping header, which looked a goal all the way, was outstandingly pushed out by Flahavan to earn his side a point and make it nine games undefeated for Walsall.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography.