Walsall's unbeaten start to the League Two season was maintained but they dropped two points in dramatic fashion after a –2 draw with Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday. The Saddlers were moments from victory at the Mornflake Stadium before Reece Hutchinson's stoppage-time strike snatched a share of the spoils for the hosts. wharfedaleobserver.co.uk first reported the story.
## How did the match unfold?
Walsall head coach Lee Grant saw his side dominate the first half and they took a deserved lead from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute. Josh Stephenson handled a cross from Charlie Crew, and Aaron Pressley stepped up to convert the spot-kick past Crewe goalkeeper Tom Booth. The visitors doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart. Joel Tabiner's crossfield pass found Josh March, who finished smartly to make it 2-0.
Crewe responded with pressure and were rewarded in the 75th minute. Pressley grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign with a powerful downward header from a well-worked free-kick routine. The Saddlers looked set to see the game out, but deep into added time, Hutchinson fired home to secure a 2-2 draw. Callum Agius had several near misses for the Railwaymen throughout a pulsating contest.
## What did the managers say after the game?
Crewe boss Lee Bell praised his team's character in fighting back. "It was an excellent response from our players and we just didn’t chuck it up into the box, we kept trying to play it," Bell said. His Walsall counterpart, Lee Grant, described the contest as a 'great advert for League Two' but was frustrated to concede so late. "We were well worth our lead after dominating the first half," Grant stated. "We dropped two points with a minute to go."
Grant also took a moment to reflect on the club's busy summer, which saw the arrival of midfielder Antony Evans as the 15th new signing. "The club has worked really hard and it (transfer business) has been exhausting," he admitted.
## Where does this leave Walsall in the table?
The result means Walsall remain third in the League Two standings with eight points from their opening four games. Their record reads two wins and two draws, with a recent form guide of DWDW. They have scored eight goals and conceded four, giving them a healthy +4 goal difference. The Saddlers are now just one point behind leaders Bristol Rovers in what is shaping up to be a tight early title race. You can follow the evolving league picture on our standings page.
## Who stood out for Walsall?
Aaron Pressley was the standout performer for the visitors, taking his personal tally to five for the season. Grant was full of praise for the striker's work ethic after the match, calling him "one of the hardest-working players." Goalkeeper Tom Booth was also involved at the other end, taking the penalty that Pressley scored from in the first half. The full squad list shows the depth Grant now has at his disposal following the summer rebuild.
Walsall's attention now turns to their next League Two fixture, a home match against Harrogate Town scheduled for Saturday. The Saddlers will be aiming to return to winning ways and keep pace at the top of the table.
