Walsall Football Club

There was a good chance for Walsall with seven minutes on the clock as Jake Heath combined well with George Bowerman for the latter to get in a dipping effort that the 'keeper pushed away. As the rebound fell to Aaron Williams, he miscued in front of goal before Bowerman got in the follow-up from close range but somehow the 'keeper defied him again by making the block.

At the other end, Ben George cleared a dangerous high cross at the far post as Gareth Evans kept the ball alive only for his curling effort to be saved by David Grof.

The visitors went close on a couple of occasions in quick succession in the 21st minute as a corner caused problems. It ended with Jason Taylor seeing his effort rattle the woodwork before rebounding to safety.

There was a powerful strike by Aaron Williams that was beaten away by Tony Thompson in The Millers' goal before a Walsall corner caused problems as the visitors defended in numbers to get in a couple of blocks.

On the half-hour mark a corner picked out James Chambers in space but his downward header bounced over.

It was the visitors who took the lead in the 33rd minute when Jason Taylor took aim and fired home with a powerful low drive from distance.

A foul on Febian Brandy by Gareth Evans gave Walsall a free-kick out wide on the right. Brandy delivered dangerously but former Saddler, Mark Bradley, who was skippering the visitors, was on hand to make an important headed clearance.

With half-time approaching, Jake Jones gave away a free-kick that Michael O'Connor fired into the side-netting.

The Saddlers were on level terms right at the end of the first half when a cross from the left was met with a deft header from Febian Brandy that went in with the aid of a slight deflection.

There was a change at half-time as youth teamer, Reece Flanagan replaced George Bowerman.

David Grof beat away an early effort from The Millers and then denied O'Connor as Rotherham made a purposeful start to the second period.

Poor Febian Brandy was the victim of several robust challenges from the visitors and on 63 minutes he won a free-kick that Ben Purkiss fired over.

There was a minor flashpoint when Brandy and Nicky Hunt clashed in front of the dug-outs but this was soon under control. 

After Kieran Agard had gone close following a positive run, a free-kick from David Noble was well saved by Grof as he tipped the ball over.

With a quarter-of-an-hour to go, James Chambers' header from a corner was blocked in front of goal.

The Saddlers' second substitution saw Febian Brandy replaced by Danny Griffiths with just over ten minutes to go.

A well-worked free-kick found Aaron Williams who fired over from the right-hand side of the area.

There was a booking for James Chambers in the 88th minute for a challenge from behind on Kayode Odejayi right on the half-way line.

Stoppage time saw shouts for a penalty as Danny Griffiths went down but the referee was uninterested, whilst Rotherham flashed an effort just wide with the last kick of the game as honours ended even.

WALSALL: Grof, George, Benning, J. Chambers, Purkiss, Heath, J. Jones, Morris, Williams, Bowerman (Flanagan), Brandy (Griffiths). Subs not used: Griffiths, Roberts.