Walsall managed to end their terrible run of away defeats with a 1 - 1 draw at the City Ground, Nottingham today, but that fails to tell the whole story.

Walsall took the lead early on in the game when Matty Fryatt headed home a Paul Merson corner, after the player manager caused a shock by dropping Jorge Leitao and playing a 4 4 1 1, with himself “in the hole”.

Forest, despite having most of the possession, were looking ponderous in front of goal, but were not really threatening, until the whole nature of the game changed when Ishmel Demontagnac was sent off on the half hour. He first kicked out at one defender, before he squared up to Nicky Southall and then raised his hands, after a free kick was given against him. The referee had no choice but to brandish the red card and Demontagnac then had “words” with Merson and with Kinsella as he left the pitch.

That was, basically, the end of the Saddlers as an attacking force and the game was then up to the performance of the back four and the goalkeeper. All five rose to the occasion.

Murphy had already made two superb saves from Brecken before the defender finally got the equaliser after 34 minutes.

The second half was almost complete one way traffic, but a superb performance by the defence, added to Forest’s incompetance, made sure that the Saddlers were able to hang on for the point with a backs to the wall effort. It’s a good job, with both Hartlepool (who go above us) and Gillingham winning.