Jose Baxter netted his seventh goal of the season, cancelling out Tom Bradshaw's second half open. The story could have been a whole lot different had George Long not kept Walsall at bay in the first half as the hosts threatened to run riot.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins named an unchanged starting eleven with only one minor switch on the substitute’s bench with young Louis Reed replacing James Wallace. In most games, there is one dominate side which starts the game pretty well, but in the exchanges at the Banks Stadium last Saturday, the opening 20 minutes was left undecided. there were a number incidents which both sides could claim the upper hand - Coutts broke through the defence and almost linked Sharp with Adams whilst Long pushed Evans effort round the post.
Hammond won possession in the middle and after he found Campbell-Ryce on the right, the winger's cross was tamely met by the head of Baxter. From distance, Bradshaw caught Long off his line but the keeper was confident that his chip drifted well wide of goal.
On 18 minutes Long was called into action, making a triple save from Morris, Bradshaw and Sawyers, this after Campbell-Ryce saw appeals for a free-kick turned down. The next 15 minutes saw the hosts gradually get on top and for united it was a back to the walls job as the Saddlers attacked the Blades goal on a number of occasions. Collins was able to block Lalkovic's effort whilst Long saved Evans shot. Downing's header, following a corner, came back off the post and in another move, Lalkovic cut inside and his shot cannoned off the crossbar as the hosts hit the woodwork twice.
As the first half drew to a close, the Blades ended the half with a couple chances of their own but were unable to find the net after Adams and Baxter both saw their efforts blocked.
The hosts maintained their dominance as the second half restarted, Chambers dragged his shot wide and in their next move were more fruitful. Sawyers broke free down the wing and from the resulting cross BRADSHAW found himself unmarked to finish at the rear post to end his baron run of six games without a goal.
Falling behind breathed a new life into the visitors and Sheffield United were soon on the offensive, Etheridge kept out Adams, pushing his effort round the post, Collins then headed towards goal but was equally met by the hands of the keeper. Just before the hour mark the United dugout and travelling support were incensed after Hammond's ball through to Adams saw the striker clip the ball over the keeper and was deemed to have been bundled over from a late O'Connor challenge, no penalty was awarded.
With the Walsall defence having held out the Blades advances, at the other end, they were in search of a second for the afternoon. Collins blocked Morris shot and Evans hit wide. On 66 minutes the game was spun on its head when United levelled the scores. Sammon, who had only been on the pitch four minutes having replaced Sharp as substitute, the on loan Derby man used his strength to pressurise the defence and when the ball was placed to the feet of BAXTER, he unleashed a shot into the bottom corner.
For supporters of both sides, the game became a tense affair with neither side able to swing the game their way. The hosts provided a number of crosses into the box without prevail, the closest they came was a shot from Evans which Long scooped up at the second attempt. Inside the remaining five minutes Cook curled his free-kick wide and United responded with three chances of their own. Baxter saw his shot pushed away by the keeper as he looked for a second and in the follow up Etheridge was quickly off his line to stop Adams scoring. Collins then saw his header saved after Baxter delivered a free-kick.
With five minutes of injury time added the play was still frantic as both sides searched for a winner, a organised defence saw Adkins Blades keep out a number of crosses and the final chance of the game saw O'Connor hit over the crossbar.
Walsall: Etheridge, Demetriou, O'Connor, Downing, Chambers, Bradshaw, Sawyers, Henry, Lalkovic (Cook 81), Morris (Forde 77), Evans. Unused: Taylor, Baxendale, MacGillivray, Preston, Flanagan.
Sheffield United: Long, Freeman, Harris, Basham, Coutts, Sharp (Sammon 62), Baxter, Collins, Campbell-Ryce (Scougall 72), Adams, Hammond. Unused: Howard, Done, McEveley, Reed, McGahey.