Rollin Menayese marked his first league appearance for Walsall in almost two years with a goal in a draw with Barrow at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
The defender, who was recalled from his loan at Aldershot, headed home Taylor Allen’s corner but was also involved in the Bluebirds’ leveller as he conceded the penalty which Dean Campbell converted.
Mat Sadler made three changes and all were forced with Tom Knowles and Jamille Matt dropping out with injury while David Okagbue missed out through suspension.
Joe Foulkes and Mo Fall came in for he injured duo while Menayese was thrown straight into the starting XI.
Barrow had the better of the early runnings as James Chester and Cole Stockton came close with a header apiece.
Walsall’s first chance came when Foulkes rolled the ball across for Faal who shot but his effort was well blocked by Chester.
The Saddlers then grew into the contest and opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Allen’s corner was met by Menayese who nodded the ball into the net.
That was how it remained until the break and the Saddlers flew out the traps in the second half as Josh Gordon raced down the right and crossed low for Faal who looked like he was going to tap the ball into the net from close range but somehow, Paul Farman managed to get across to make an excellent save.
Walsall would live to regret that miss as the visitors equalised on 53 minutes when Dean Campbell converted from a penalty after Emile Acquah was brought down by Menayese in the box.
The Saddlers were forced into a change when Faal had to go off after receiving some treatment and was replaced by Douglas James-Taylor.
The game became a bit of a battle as both teams tried to wrestle the initiative.
Brandon Comley tried his luck from distance and his effort was on target but it was comfortably saved by Farman.
Barrow also had their moments and came close twice in the final 10 minutes when Jackson Smith made himself look big to deny Sam Foley before Rory Feely’s header bounced off the post from the resulting corner.
The visitors applied pressure late on but it was the Saddlers who had the better chances in stoppage time and they fell to James-Taylor with his first effort taking a deflection as it crept just wide before his volley was blocked and in the end, both teams had to settle for a point.
Smith (GK); Foulkes (Riley 69’), Adegboyega, Menayese, Allen, L. Gordon; Hutchinson, Comley, Earing (Tierney 82’); Faal (James-Taylor 60’), J. Gordon
Subs: Evans; Riley, James-Taylor, Stirk, Tierney, Jellis, Johnson
