Orient hold in-form Sadlers to a draw

10:42am Wednesday 30th January 2008

Walsall 0
Leyton Orient 0
(League One)

ORIENT couldn't prevent Walsall from extending their unbeaten league run to 17 games, but did enough to hold on for a vital away point.

The Sadlers had the better of the chances throughout, although the O's looked much more solid again at the back.

In a first half short on serious goal chances the hosts almost took a lucky lead on 20 minutes, when an Adam Chambers' clearance almost cannoned off Scott Dann into the net.

Stuart Nelson was then forced into his first real action when he saved Lee Holmes shot.

There was little improvement after the break as the sides cancelled each other out, although the best chance of the second period fell Walsall's way on 64 minutes. A fine cross by Holmes from the left presented Darren Wrack with a golden opportunity in front of goal, but he somehow failed to hit the target with his header.

It then wasn't until stoppage time that either side really came up with another serious chance.

First Tommy Mooney had a shot well saved by Nelson, while at the other end Adam Boyd's drive was saved by Clayton Ince.

Reflecting on events manager Martin Ling said: "I felt I got some kind of response after the poor showing at Northampton on Friday.

"Once again we weren't at our best going forward, but I was pleased that we looked a lot more solid at the back."

Orient: Nelson; Purches, Mkandawire, Saah, Daniels; Melligan (Demetriou 78), Chambers, Terry, Corden, Barcham (Echanomi 82), Boyd. Unused: Morris, Oji, Palmer.