Match ends, Walsall 1, Blackpool 1.
WalsallWalsall1BlackpoolBlackpool1
Promotion-chasing Walsall suffered late heartbreak as League One strugglers Blackpool snatched a dramatic leveller.
The Seasiders went close in the first half through Jack Redshaw, who forced a fine save from Neil Etheridge.
Walsall took a 66th-minute lead when Anthony Taylor's cross-shot found Jason Demetriou at the far post for a tap-in.
But Uche Ikpeazu's free-kick deflected into the path of Danny Philliskirk, who poked into an empty net to level the scores in injury time.
Third-placed Walsall, who have a rearranged league game at Fleetwood in midweek ahead of next Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Reading, finished the game without three of their key players.
Top scorer Tom Bradshaw, highly-rated teenage left back Rico Henry and Romaine Sawyers, who was feeling his hamstring, were all substituted.
Walsall head coach Sean O'Driscoll told BBC WM 95.6:
"The players adapted really well to a difficult game. Blackpool were coming off an excellent 5-0 win against Scunthorpe.
"They came full of confidence and you can see from the first half that they were dangerous.
"We evolved as the game went on and controlled the second half. They didn't create a chance apart from the goal."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 1Etheridge
- 6DowningBooked at 90mins
- 4O'Connor
- 3TaylorBooked at 45mins
- 2Demetriou
- 8Mantom
- 7ChambersBooked at 34mins
- 12Forde
- 14HenrySubstituted forPrestonat 90+1'minutes
- 10SawyersSubstituted forMorrisat 89'minutes
- 9BradshawSubstituted forLalkovicat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 13MacGillivray
- 15Lalkovic
- 16Preston
- 17Flanagan
- 18Morris
- 21Cook
- 22Kinsella
Blackpool
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Doyle
- 2White
- 15AldredBooked at 48mins
- 25Aimson
- 3Ferguson
- 4McAlisterBooked at 85mins
- 8PottsSubstituted forHerronat 87'minutes
- 19NorrisBooked at 18mins
- 28YeatesSubstituted forIkpeazuat 63'minutes
- 17Philliskirk
- 10RedshawSubstituted forCullenat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Rivers
- 9Cullen
- 14Herron
- 16Boyce
- 21Osayi-Samuel
- 23Letheren
- 29Ikpeazu
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 5,022
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamBlackpool
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Blackpool 1.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 1, Blackpool 1. Danny Philliskirk (Blackpool) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Booking
Paul Downing (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Paul Downing (Walsall).
Post update
Danny Philliskirk (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Andy Taylor (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Matt Preston replaces Rico Henry.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Kieron Morris replaces Romaine Sawyers.
Post update
Jason Demetriou (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Will Aimson (Blackpool).
Post update
Hand ball by Milan Lalkovic (Walsall).
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. John Herron replaces Brad Potts.
Post update
Foul by Milan Lalkovic (Walsall).
Post update
Tom Aldred (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Milan Lalkovic replaces Tom Bradshaw.
Booking
Jim McAlister (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Rico Henry (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jim McAlister (Blackpool).
Post update
Anthony Forde (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
