It was another case of two points dropped today as Walsall threw away a 3-1 half time lead to draw 3-3 with Forest. Despite falling behind after only three minutes, Jorge Leitao, Jamie Lawrence and then Gary Wales put Colin Lee’s men in front. Forest came back strongly after the break however, and with the Saddlers camped in their own half for the entire second half, Marlon King and Gareth Taylor grabbed a point for Joe Kinnear’s side.
With no Merson, Wrack, Ritchie, Oakes or Corica, Matt Carbon returned in defence and Neil Embeln started in midfield. Jimmy Walker returned after suspension whilst Leitao, Wales and Birch all featured up front.
Forest took a third minute lead when Andy Impey – signed on loan from Leicester this week – scored with his first touch, sweeping home a cross from King. It was Forest’s first goal for over 13.5 hours!
However, Walsall equalised almost immediately as Wales right wing cross fell perfectly for Leitao, who shot home from six yards via the legs of Darren Ward. King then found himself clean through on the edge of the area but Jimmy Walker turned his rasping drive over the bar. Ian Roper limped off with a groin strain after 18 minutes and replacement Lawrence put Walsall 2-1 up five minutes later. Birch twisted and turned in the area and when his shot was fumbled by Ward, Lawrence bundled the ball home.
After 39 minutes, Walsall extended their lead as Wales notched his first goal for the club; he latched onto a long ball before turning away from John Thompson and Des Walker and firing right-footed past Ward.
Forest dragged themselves back into contention after 56 minutes, when King headed past Walker from close range. Walsall players surrounded the referee, protesting against King’s robust challenge which left Aranalde on the ground but to no avail.
Walsall sat back and defended deep as is the norm nowadays and it was little surprise when Forest grabbed a 90th minute equaliser, Taylor heading home. Forest should have then gone onto win it in the four minutes of injury time, but Eoin Jess somehow put his close range header wide.