Two sides with question marks about their defence, (because of injuries in the case of the Saddlers), but each with a potent attacking threat. It was bound to end up 0 - 0, wasn’t it?

Darlington were the better team in the second half, as they pushed forward time and time again against the Saddlers, but to no avail. They increased their unbeaten run to 11 games, but the Walsall back four stood firm and coped well with the attacks and Ince was never really extended as he ran up the teams 19th clean sheet of the season in all competitions, and their first since the away win at Macclesfield back in January.

Keates had a very good game in a more defensive role than normal in the absence of Michael Dobson, but the Man of the Match could have gone to any of the back four, especially the two centre backs and, even more especially to Scott Dann, playing on in the second half despite having stitches in a head wound. The Fat Controller has no hesitation in naming the young centre half as his MoM for a performance in which he won everything.

All in all, a reasonable day, getting an away point at an in-form side, especially as Swindon were well and truly thumped at Stockport and Lincoln lost at home. Just a pity about Franchise getting their two late goals.

Richard Money decided to bring in Craig Pead for the injured Westwood and Darren Wrack for Dobson, but it hasn’t weakened the team that much from last week.

On a heavy pitch, chances have been few and far between. Harper and Cooper have been struggling to get involved, although Cooper went close early on. Keates and Wrack are holding the centre together, but are creating very little.

Butler has gone close on a couple of occasions, as as Julian Joachim (who missed one easy chance on the edge of the six yard box), but Darlington have been struggling to cope with the conditions as much as we have, according to the Fat Controller.

Ashley’s overall opinion is that we need to make some real improvements in the second half if we are going to come away with the points.