Keegan Keegan believes Walsall will comfortable survive in the second tier next season after playing a full part in a dramatic 2-2 draw with champions Fulham at the Bescot Stadium tonight.
The England managed hailed praised Ray Graydon’s achievements on a shoe string budget in the Midlands, telling the press after Walsall had gone toe-to-toe with his side in a high-quality advert for Second Division football: “Walsall are a footballing side and it should suit them higher up. Ray Graydon has proved that he is very shrewd and I don’t see why they shouldn’t survive.”
The hosts hit the front five minutes before half-time after a rapid break from the back five minutes. Swedish striker Rob Steiner latched onto a clever pass from Darko Mavrak before embarking on a sixty yard run and tapping home after his deflected effort had beaten Maik Taylor but bounced back off the far post. Fulham replied right on the interval when Chris Coleman’s cultured through ball put Smith in the clear to equalise.
Croatian Darko Mavrak sent Rob Steiner on a 50-yard run. The Swedish striker’s low shot deflect off Jamie Smith onto a post but he gathered again to score past the helpless Maik Taylor.
Walsall went ahead again with twenty minutes left when Ian Roper converted a flick on from Adrian Viveash after the visitors had switched off at Dean Keates’ free-kick. But Fulham fought back to earn a share of the spoils with two minutes left when Steve Hayward hammered a thirty yarder past Jimmy Walker.
WALSALL (4-4-2): Walker; Marsh, Pointen, Viveash, Roper; Mavrak (Green 90), Wrack (Carter 80), Larusson, Keates; Steiner (Eyjólfsson 75), Rammell.
GOALS: Steiner (40), Roper (71).
FULHAM (5-3-2): Taylor; McAnespie, Symons, Coleman; J. Smith, Brevett, Hayward, W. Collins (N. Smith 83), Trollope (Bracewell 43); Hayles, Lehmann (Moody 83).
GOALS: J. Smith (45), Hayward (88).
REFEREE: John Kirkby (Long Buckby).
ATTENDANCE: 8,326.
