Newport 0-0 Walsall: Oisin McEntee's late effort ruled out in goalless draw

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Newport were reduced to 10-men when Ciaran Brennan was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Taylor Allen. 

Yet it took a heroic save from Tommy Simkin to preserve the point after Josh Martin had been sent free by Bobby Kamwa. 

McEntee scrambled the ball over the line at the back post in the final minute but Walsall saw their celebrations dashed after he adjudged to have handled the ball.

Despite extending their winless run to 12 games, Walsall climbed into the final automatic promotion spot on goal difference, although Bradford City can leapfrog them with a point at Chesterfield.

Mat Sadler made four changes to the team which began their 2-2 draw against Harrogate Town at Bescot on Good Friday. 

Alfie Chang was handed his first Walsall start following his promising cameo from the bench three days ago. 

Nathan Asiimwe, Albert Adomah and Levi Amantchi were also recalled as Connor Barrett, George Hall, Ellis Harrison and Jamille Matt dropped to the bench.

Walsall looked very tidy in possession with Ryan Stirk and Chang providing composure as a double pivot and Jamie Jellis floating between the lines in the 10 role. 

They made the brightest start with Adomah stretching the Newport defence with a slick run down the left. He hung his cross into the box but Jellis was unable to direct his header on target from close-range. 

On the right, Asiimwe outmuscled Shane Mcloughlin and drove into the box but his effort from an acute angle was spilled behind by Nick Townsend.

Newport gradually grew into the contest and looked a threat on the counter-attack. Kai Whitmore spun away from the Saddlers back-line and squared for former Walsall trialist Bobby Kamwa but his finish was blocked by David Okagbue. 

The hosts then kept a corner alive to work it short to Michael Spellman on the edge of the box but his effort through bodies was comfortably gathered by Tommy Simkin. 

Harry Williams and Taylor Allen had their work cut out dealing with the combative threat of towering Newport target man Kyle Hudlin and Walsall struggled to break Newport down despite enjoying the lion's share of possession.

Just before the break, Adomah prowled down the left and managed to work the ball inside where Allen eventually blazed his effort over the crossbar from distance.

Whitmore tricked his way into the box and was unable to stretch Simkin, who gathered his effort with ease at his near post at the start of the second half.

At the other end, Chang dragged a low effort wide of the target from the edge of the box and Amantchi fired straight at Townsend.

Sadler brought on triple reinforcements midway into the second half with the introductions of Connor Barrett, George Hall and Jamille Matt. 

Hall made an immediate impact as he spun into space in midfield and released Asiimwe who had shifted out to the left. He got the better of his man and hung a superb cross on to the head of Adomah, who was unable to get enough power on his effort to send it goal wards. 

Prior to the Walsall subs, Kamwa had a great opportunity for Newport after substitute Josh Martin clipped an inviting cross to the back post but the Cameroonian wide man miscued his finish off target. 

Oisin McEntee was brought on for the final 20 minutes after recovering from an ankle injury and Williams had a presentable chance from Allen's floated corner when he headed wide from a tight angle.

The game took a huge twist when Brennan was given his early marching orders for a high challenge on Allen. 

Ellis Harrison was thrown on for the final few minutes but Walsall were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage. Newport almost took the lead themselves when Kamwa dispossessed Williams at the halfway line and released Martin. 

He was one-on-one with Simkin but the Walsall goalkeeper struck out a vital leg to thwart him from close-range.

A good chance presented itself when Asiimwe delivered a low cutback from the left but Stirk was unable to keep his finish down.

There was a lengthy stoppage at the end after Simkin caught Martin when he emerged to deal with a teasing ball in behind. 

McEntee thought he'd won it the death when he bundled the ball home at the back post but it was ruled out for handball.

Teams

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Stirk; Asiimwe, Jellis (Hall 66), Chang (McEntee 72), L Gordon (Barrett 66); Adomah (Harrison 84), Amantchi (Matt 66).

Unused: Hornby, Daniels.

Newport (4-3-3): Townsend; Thomas, Clarke (Warner 38), Baker, Mcloughlin; Antwi, Brennan, Whitmore (Glennon 62); Spellman (Martin 62), Hudlin (Baker-Richardson 83), Kamwa.

Unused: Webb, Ajiboye (Martin 90 +8), K Evans.

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Attendance: 4,578 (1,028)