Midefielder Adam Clayton returned to the starting line up for the visit of Walsall with defender David Raven also making a return in his recognised right-back position.

Jason Price and Gary Madine were handed the task of leading the line and Richard Keogh stepped across to partner Ian Harte in the centre of the defence.

The Saddlers signalled their intent as early as the second minute when Deeney found space and opened up the back line with a ball through the gap. He put too much on it though and Byfield couldn't retrieve it.

Walsall were quickly ahead though when Carlisle fell asleep in midfield. Byfield broke clear and he slotted it away despite the best efforts of Adam Collin.

Ian Harte sent a great free kick into the box as United tried to make amends quickly, but Smith rose to clear it as Madine ran in.

Keogh had a great chance to equalise on 18 minutes when he lost his marker at a corner but he got far too much on the header and it sailed over the bar.

Neat one touch football on the edge of the area released Horwood on 23 minutes and his fizzed cross had two strikers interested. Gary Madine got the slightest of touches but Gilmartin was well placed to grasp it.

United grabbed their deserved equaliser on 29 minutes when Price expertly controlled a flick on from Madine. He took a touch to settle the ball before clipping it over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net.

it almost got better on 33 minutes when Marshall and Taiwo worked hard for each other in an advanced position. Marshall stepped back inside and went for the top corner, with Gilmartin able only to beat it away.

Madine went close again when he stretched a toe to meet a Harte inswinger, but he couldn't get the touch that was needed to get in on target.

Clayton McDonald was then inches away from scoring one of the best own goals ever seen. With the ball in front of him he smashed it as hard as he could to prevent Madine from getting there, and it whistled past the upright by a matter of inches.

Half Time: United 1 - 1 Walsall

Walsall started on the front foot and Byfield created space for himself tight by the bye line before poking it across the face of goal. Taundry hit it well but he dragged his shot just wide.

Another Byfield cross caused all kinds of problems as it skipped in between the keeper and the defence, but Richards seemed to take his eye off the ball at the decisive moment and Keogh gratefully back heeled it away for a corner.

Byfield turned away from Harte in midfield on 51 minutes and it opened up in front of him as he raced towards the edge of the box. His shot was half blocked and Collin gathered at the second attempt.

The Cumbrians nearly nicked the lead on 63 minutes when an Ian Harte free kick was allowed to drift into the area. Madine took a touch, then Price clipped it on, and Keogh had to be stopped by a last ditch tackle from Jones.

Richards found space to meet a Gray cross on 76 minutes at the back stick but he couldn't keep it down and it flew well wide in the end.

Keogh defended heroically on the line on 85 minutes when he cleared a dangerous Richards free kick that was threatening to go in, and that was that as both sides settled for a well-earned point.

Goals

United - Price (28)

Walsall - Byfield (2)

Bookings

United - Price, Keogh

Walsall - Smith, Gray

Teams 

United - Collin, Raven, Keogh, Harte, Horwood, Clayton, Thirlwell, Taiwo, Marshall (Dobie 68), Price (Bowman 79), Madine. Subs (not used) - Pidgeley, Bridge-Wilkinson, Aldred, Kane, Swinglehurst.

Walsall - Gilmartin, Weston, Smith, Jones (Till 83), Deeney, Taundry, Vincent, Richards, Gray, Byfield, McDonald (Hughes 46). Subs (not used) - Ince, Bradley, O'Keefe, Westlake, Grigg.

Away fans - 233