Full-time: Walsall 2 Scunthorpe United 2
Jimmy Ryan struck three minutes into stoppage time to earn Scunthorpe United a point from a game in which they should have taken all three.
The midfielder came off the bench to rifle the ball low into the bottom corner and seal a 2-2 draw in a game the visitors dominated from first whistle to last.
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Jimmy Ryan drills in the Iron's equaliser at the Banks's Stadium, four minutes into stoppage time. Picture: Phil Cook.
Prior to Ryan's goal, his first since his summer switch from Accrington Stanley, it looked like being another case of 'different game, same old story'.
United had controlled all of the play at the Banks's Stadium but, as has been the case all season, their profligacy looked to have been costly.
Outside of the penalty area they were sharp, concise and slick.
Crucially, inside it they lacked composure and ruthlessness.
Eight League One games without a win, going into this clash, was clearly beginning to play on their mind, despite boss Alan Knill's plea not to panic.
Scunthorpe trailed to Adam Chambers' 22nd minute header, a goal born from the hosts' only effort of the opening 45 minutes.
The game was one-way traffic for the first hour, yet surprisingly swung one way and then the other during a frantic final 15 minutes.
Initially, Garry Thompson's first goal in more than a year – seven minutes after being introduced from the bench – looked to have rescued a point for the visitors late in the second half.
But substitute Will Grigg struck a stunning first-time volley from a tight angle into the top corner to quickly restore the Saddlers' lead.
That looked to have won it for the hosts, yet there was still time for United to snatch a sixth draw in nine games courtesy of Ryan's crisp finish with just seconds remaining.
Scunthorpe had started brightly in the sunshine and showers of the West Midlands.
They forced the game's first chance in just the third minute, Bobby Grant seeing a shot on turn held by James Walker at the foot of a post.
Then the two Duffys, Mark and Shane, combined, with the latter heading straight at the home keeper following a floated cross.
With Michael O'Connor pulling the strings in the middle of the park on his return to the starting XI, United were dominant.
In the 19th minute Chris Dagnall brought a good save out of Walker having robbed the Walsall defence and linked up well with Grant.
Yet three minutes later, the visitors were behind – courtesy of Chambers' second goal of the campaign.
He rose highest almost on the penalty spot to flick the ball into the back of the net from Richard Taundry's pacy free-kick, with an attempted punch from keeper Sam Johnstone nowhere near its target.
After the goal, normal service was resumed with Scunthorpe piling forward as the home crowd began to get restless.
But having been more style than substance, they went in at the break behind - a story which continued into the second half.
The longer the match went on, the longer the Iron's shots seemed to become.
O'Connor, Dagnall, Mark Duffy and Norwood, who clipped the outside of the post from a free-kick, all tried their luck from range - with varying degrees of accuracy.
That only added to the visiting fans' frustrations, as when they remained patient, United looked much more threatening.
As the hour mark arrived, Norwood got on the end of Grant's lovely ball into the penalty area, though his control let him down allowing Walker to gather the ball just as the Manchester United man was about to shoot.
Although much more infrequentl, Walsall had their moments too, with Taundry not far off target with a free-kick 20 yards from goal.
Most of the action though came at the other end of the field – and Scunthorpe finally found the back of the net courtesy of Thompson, who was one of four black shirts queuing up at the back post to finish from close range when a corner was not cleared.
Having waited 78 minutes for a goal, the Iron were level for all of five minutes.
It was then that Grigg brilliantly volleyed the Saddlers to what looked like a victory with a strike worthy of winning game.
But Ryan had other ideas, making the most of some rare time and space in the middle of the park by firing in from just outside the Saddlers' penalty area on the back of good work from Mark Duffy out wide.
Although pleased for a point, Scunthorpe will no doubt have been disappointed not have picked up more for their dominance.
And while you can't fault the football, it will leave United fans getting further edgier about where their side's first win of the season is coming from.
Walsall: Walker; Beevers, Lancashire, Butler, Sadler; Chambers, Taundry, Peterlin (Grigg 64); Paterson, Jarvis (Nicholls 73), Martin (Hurst 78). Subs not used: Grof, Smith.
Scunthorpe: Johnstone; Togwell, S Duffy, Reid, Nolan; Mozika (Ryan 86), O'Connor, Norwood (Thompson 71); M Duffy, Dagnall, Grant. Subs not used: Slocombe, Palmer, Nelson.
Attendance: 3,619 (389 away).
27 Comments
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by Iron123
Thursday, September 22 2011, 8:27PM
“I agree 100% mate - and can see where you are coming from although football is littered with clubs smaller than ourselves, who have have succeeded...Wimbledon winning the Cup being one.
I believe that the trick is to 'make hay while the Sun is out' (that time has now passed) , so when in a position of worth re-invest in the club, the youth system, the ground, marketing etc to enable the next generation the best opportunity possible to return to that level.
Up the Iron!”
by ironite
Thursday, September 22 2011, 6:55PM
“"Why do you think we have 'no fundamental right' to be at Championship level Ironite?
Because we didn't have any right, if there is any logic in the world or and reason around our natural existence and especially if the doctrines of neoliberal fiscal austerity are to be believed. If any of this is true, we had absolutely no right to be even contemplating Championship football. Keep in mind, if the football league was tiered based on the number's through the turnstile, even with our "inflated" attendances two seasons ago, we would still rank at about 5th in League Two!!!! Its not a flippant comment, more a reflection of how ridiculous Nigel Adkins' is at his job.”
by Iron123
Thursday, September 22 2011, 5:45PM
“When I read yesterdays Daily Mirror front page-I thought of you.”
by hotdog11
Thursday, September 22 2011, 12:42PM
“I agree with you all.”
by hotdog11
Thursday, September 22 2011, 12:38PM
“I love spam sandwiches”
by RobinJackson1
Thursday, September 22 2011, 12:04PM
“If you actually read what Ironite siad rather than what you think he said you may actually come over as slightly less clueless than you really are.
Ironite did not say we have no fundamental right to be at championship level as you try to make out, he said 'Championship level for a club who had no fundamental right to be there if any footballing logic is to be believed, amazingly defying all odds to actually survive'.
There's a huge chasm in the difference betwen the two statements, learn it.”
by Iron123
Thursday, September 22 2011, 8:02AM
“Why do you think we have 'no fundamental right' to be at Championship level Ironite? We have as much right as anyone else - even Grimsby who had 19 of 23 years at that level.
Adkins is a genius - there is no way that Laws would have taken us up the year Nigel took over and won the league, he lifted the club, the fans and the town. In his years previous as the physio it was always clear that his interlect and ability to understand the game was far and above that of the usual.
The most amazing thing about Adkins time at SUFC (he arrived pre Laws), was that he was actually DEMOTED by Wharton, in order to retrieve Brian Laws career in 2004! I thought he was extremley harshly treated in all that and amongst that fuss and egos being thrown around at that period, was relegated from caretaker boss back to the spongeman under the Daily Sport reading, monosyllabilic Brian Laws. His return to the post after Laws walked out was niether inspired or the first choice of Wharton - it just 'happened' that Nigel won three of the four games in charge and was 'cheap'....where have we heard thsat one before!
The greatest part about Adkins, is that beyond the extreme success at United he has continued (70% win record!) to win, win, win and in style too - while Laws is the after dinner speaker at an Iron JPT match, Nigel is touted as a future England boss!
Up the Iron!”
by ironite
Wednesday, September 21 2011, 10:02PM
“There's a chunk missing from my last, it should read.......plus two years at Championship level for a club who had no fundamental right to be there if any footballing logic is to be believed, amazingly defying all odds to actually survive.”
by ironite
Wednesday, September 21 2011, 10:01PM
“Remember this conversation in about 5 years GTFC, Nigel Adkins will be a Premiership manager in twelve months time meaning in 6 years as a professional league manager he will have achieved promotion four times,Championship level who had no fundamental right to be there if any footballing logic is to be believed.
Southampton will arrive a Premiership side like many who are promoted, punchy and commended for their enthusiasm like Burnley and Blackpool, but they'll also concede boatloads. However they will have the quality and determination to win enough games 3-2 and 4-3 to just about survive, and then grow thanks to a strong youth structure including players like Adam Lallana, Jack Cork and Danny Fox. Their second season will be comfortably mid-table before someone like Villa or Everton pick him up. Then he'll take them into Europe, probably as Carling Cup winners, and England will eventually come calling.
Remember.........”
by GTFC83
Wednesday, September 21 2011, 5:23PM
“Woo, hold up..... Listen here mate, it doesn't matter if it is 10 years down the line he still won't make England manager. If we do have an English manager it'll be Harry or Stuart Pearce who's been working with the under 21's. After that the FA would look at Mark Hughes or Steve Bruce but before they get an offer it'll probably go to a European manager again. Look I'm not knocking 'Sir Nigel of Adkins' he's a good guy and a talented manager, he made sure you lot over achieved for a while - he's just not England material. He wouldn't be able to control the big names and they'll lose respect..... Look at Steve Mc. Anyway all the best for your season, as much as you'd love me to be a thug with a low IQ that's unfortunately not the case.”