Jorge Leitao’s 69th minute equaliser cancelled out Marlon Harewood’s early opener and earned Walsall a point against ten men West Ham at Bescot this afternoon.
The Hammers began with Harewood, Jermaine Defoe and David Connolly all up front but that lasted only six minutes as the hot headed Defoe lashed out at Ian Roper and was dismissed despite failing to make contact with the Saddlers’ defender.
Alan Pardew’s men took the lead minutes later as Saddlers’ skipper Paul Merson lost the ball in his own half and Matthew Etherington crossed for Harewood to fire home via the post.
Jimmy Walker then pulled off a fabulous one handed stop to deny Connolly as West Ham dominated the opening 45 minutes. With Merson stuck out on the right wing, Walsall’s best chances fell to Birch and Wrack whose shots from distance failed to find the net. Walsall beat off several clubs to sign Merse but have so far failed to consistently play him in the midfield role that he craves…
The enigmatic skipper should then have equalised at the start of the second half after latching onto Ian Pearce’s misplaced header inside the area, but he fired wide with the outside of his right boot with just David James to beat.
Walsall were a different team after half time and an equaliser seemed just around the corner. Gary Birch put the ball into the net after 57 minutes only to see it – seemingly wrongly - disallowed for offside despite it coming last off a home defender.
Then with twenty minutes to go, Samways’ floated cross was headed across goal by Darren Wrack and turned in by the outstretched boot of Jorge Leitao, his fourth goal of the season.

Young Saddlers striker Matty Fryatt earned rave reviews after his debut for Football League basement boys Carlisle United today. The 17 year old starred for the Cumbrians as they beat Torquay 2-0 today and delighted manager Paul Simpson said “Young Fryatt did very well today. We had to throw them (Fryatt and fellow new signing Andy Preece) in and I’m pleased it worked.”
Carlisle fans bombarded message boards in praise of the youngster;
“Thought Fryatt was unlucky not to get MOtM, although the goal just shaded it for Preece. I hope Walsall don’t want Fryatt back too soon…That lad is the next Wayne Rooney! Perhaps not but he was brilliant today. Forward thinking is the best way to describe him which is what we’ve been lacking and he didn’t look 17 or inexperienced. Lets hope he stays forever…Fryatt also looked excellent, although the conditions today were atrocious he
showed great pace and a willingness to run himself into the ground for the cause. Just what we need…”