Match ends, Walsall 1, Gillingham 1.
WalsallWalsall1GillinghamGillingham1
Cody McDonald grabbed a second-half equaliser to earn a point for Gillingham against Walsall and ensure they removed any threat of relegation.
Walsall came closest to breaking the deadlock early on when Craig Westcarr headed straight at Stuart Nelson.
The Saddlers took the lead after the break when Febian Brandy drove home Westcarr's rebounded shot.
Adebayo Akinfenwa teed up McDonald late on, who fired past Richard O'Donnell for his 16th goal of the season.
Gillingham manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Kent:
"I am delighted to get a very good away point against a good team; Walsall play some terrific football.
"I don't think Cody McDonald was having a particularly great afternoon but what goalscorers do is get you a goal whether they're having a good game or not.
"It would have to be extremely unlucky for us to go down now. We'll keep working.
"We showed a good attitude today and we'll show a good attitude against Preston on Saturday."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-3-3
- 1O'Donnell
- 15Chambers
- 14Benning
- 8Mantom
- 12DowningBooked at 65mins
- 4Butler
- 7Chambers
- 9Lalkovic
- 10Westcarr
- 25SawyersSubstituted forNgooat 75'minutes
- 29BrandySubstituted forBakayokoat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 6Featherstone
- 13Lewis
- 16Baxendale
- 26McQuilkin
- 27Bakayoko
- 30Ngoo
Gillingham
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Nelson
- 29HewittBooked at 57mins
- 3Martin
- 31Hessenthaler
- 6Legge
- 26Barrett
- 27FaganSubstituted forLeeat 75'minutes
- 15DackBooked at 54minsSubstituted forWestonat 60'minutes
- 10McDonald
- 12Gregory
- 7WhelpdaleSubstituted forAkinfenwaat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Linganzi
- 8Akinfenwa
- 11Weston
- 18Lee
- 19Smith
- 23Harriman
- 35Baxter
- Referee:
- Darren Sheldrake
- Attendance:
- 3,890
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamGillingham
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home9
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Gillingham 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Leon Legge.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Amadou Bakayoko replaces Febian Brandy.
Post update
Attempt saved. Craig Westcarr (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Febian Brandy (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Steven Gregory (Gillingham).
Post update
Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Gillingham).
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 1, Gillingham 1. Cody McDonald (Gillingham) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Post update
Foul by Milan Lalkovic (Walsall).
Post update
Charlie Lee (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Malvind Benning (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Myles Weston (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Michael Ngoo replaces Romaine Sawyers.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Charlie Lee replaces Craig Fagan.
Post update
Hand ball by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Gillingham).
Post update
Craig Westcarr (Walsall) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
