Posh Held By Saddlers
For the second successive week, Peterborough United came up against an inspired goalkeeper as Neil Etheridge produced a host of world class stops to earn Walsall a point at the ABAX Stadium.Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge had some early work to do, denying Michael Bostwick's ambitious volley from distance and then doing well to hold on to a low Maddison strike from 25-yards.
The deadlock was broken on 16 minutes as a right-wing centre was glanced past McGee with some aplomb by the experienced Simeon JACKSON. Hughes fired wide on the half volley after a good ball to the back post by Maddison moments later.
Walsall were lucky on 22 minutes as Etheridge and Laird had a breakdown in communication, the latter heading just wide of his own goal.
The equaliser came on 28 minutes and what a stunning goal it was too, not just in it's execution by Marcus MADDISON, who saw his stunning 25-yard curler find the top corner, but also the build-up involving Taylor, Moncur and Nichols.
Nichols was cautioned in the 31st minute for a foul, the first real foul of note in the contest. Etheridge produced a stunning save to scoop a deflected Edwards effort from the edge of the box around the post moments later.
Oztumer fired wide from around 25-yards after a misplaced pass from Maddison as Walsall came close to re-taking the lead. Taylor cut inside from the left on 39 minutes and found himself in a presentable shooting opportunity, but his curler was straight into the midriff of Etheridge.
On the stroke of half-time, Posh were desperately close to scoring, first Hughes saw his powerful header blocked and then Edwards saw the follow up blocked on the line by Chambers.
Etheridge produced another superb stop this time to deny Moncur's low shot from 12-yards moments after the interval. Taylor fired over on 50 minutes after more excellent football from the home side, Maddison, Moncur and Edwards all involved in creating the chance.
Jackson fired high and wide on the hour mark after the visitors nearly caught Posh out with a counter-attack. Etheridge produced yet another save on 70 minutes to claw a Nichols header away from danger after good work from Taylor down the right.
Moore was a whisker away from putting Posh in front on 79 minutes after a dinked Maddison cross to the near post, the substitute's header going just wide of the target.
Laird cracked the post with a thunderous effort on 85 minutes as Posh appealed in vain for offside.
Posh: McGee, Smith, Hughes, Bostwick, Tafazolli, Forrester, Edwards, Taylor, (sub Moore 70min) Maddison, Nichols, Moncur. (sub Oduwa 75min) Unused subs: Tyler, Baldwin, Da Silva Lopes, White, Chettle.
Walsall: Etheridge, Laird, O'Connor, McCarthy, Chambers, Cuvelier, (sub Moussa 60min) Jackson, Oztumer, Morris, Toner, Makris (sub Osbourne 76min). Unused subs: MacGillivray, Dobson, Kinsella, Preston, Bakayoko.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Walsall
Full-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Walsall
Attendance: 4,906 (314 Walsall fans)