Walsall 1 Rochdale 1

Anyone who has watched Walsall win one of their last four games must be fearing a bumpy ride to promotion, or even the play-offs.

One win, two draws and a defeat is not the stuff of champions, and if relegation-threatened Rochdale had been a little steadier with their finishing, they would have had three points.

Even so, it took a brilliant goal from defender Scott Dann in the third minute of stoppage time to deny the visitors a shock victory and, with Swindon Town losing at home, the Saddlers actually increased their lead at the top of League Two to four points.

Next Saturday they visit form team Hartlepool, who will be brimming with confidence after beating Swindon and it will require a much better effort than this.

Saddlers manager Richard Money said: "I don’t need anyone to tell me that was not good enough and not the type of performance we need.

"We are very pleased to have come out with a point and who knows how important that will be at the end of the day?"

At times, Walsall seem incapable of threading passes through opposition defences and against a spirited Rochdale side, they sent far too many hit-and-hope crosses into the box and rarely looked like scoring in the second half, despite piling on pressure.

They have won one of their last four home games, so it is just as well they managed to grind out a victory at Macclesfield in midweek.

When another of the division’s strugglers, Boston, held the Saddlers in their previous home game, Money accused them of bully-boy tactics, but he had nothing but praise for an impressive Dale side who showed why they had crushed MK Dons a week earlier.

The Lancashire team took the lead in the fourth minute through an uncharacteristic mistake by goalkeeper Clayton Ince, who pushed a free-kick from Rory Prendergast into his own net.

Walsall almost equalised after 28 minutes when Martin Butler won a challenge in the box and the ball squirmed into the path of Dean Keates. The midfielder, who had scored twice at Macclesfield, thought he had his ninth of the season with a low shot, but Rory McArdle cleared off the line.

Ten minutes from half-time, another chance went begging as Hector Sam, on his knees, headed over from three yards out.

Even before a ball was kicked, it was clear the Saddlers’ line-up was short of pace in attack, and Money accepted that during half-time, sending on speedy Ishmel Demontagnac, soon to be followed by Mark Wright and Par Cederqvist.

By then, however, Rochdale had grown in confidence and twice had chances to add to their lead. Each time, nippy on-loan striker Adam Le Fondre got clear of the defence, only to be denied by the reactions of Ince.

It was, though, fitting that Dann should rescue Walsall. He had made one brilliant clearance in the 70th minute and with his team-mates on the ropes, the 19-year-old centre-back began a determined run from his own half before unleashing a low drive which was in the net before goalkeeper Matthew Gilks could move.

Dann, who looks a Premiership prospect, said: "I just saw a bit of space and thought ‘why not?’ I had to try something."

In view of their lack of firepower, the Saddlers may yet regret selling James Constable cheaply to Kidderminster Harriers. They are still in an excellent position, but there are some extremely difficult games ahead and they will need more skill and invention going forward.

Scorers: Ince (og, 4) 0-1, Dann (90) 1-1.

WALSALL: Ince; Westwood, Gerrard (Demontagnac, 46), Dann, Fox; Wrack (Wright 58), Dobson, Pead, Keates; Sam (Cederqvist, 58), Butler. Subs: Bossu, Taylor.
ROCHDALE: (4-4-2) Gilks; Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Goodall; Etuhu (Rundle, 31), Jones, Doolan, Prendergast (Perkins 65); Le Fondre (Reid 81), Murray. Subs: Edge, Crooks.
Referee: Richard Beeby (Northants).
Bookings: Walsall — Fox (foul). Rochdale — Etuhu (foul).
Attendance: 5,046.