Lowe lashes Latics to safety zone

Photo: Darren Robinson

Warren Feeney produces a strong run towards the heart of the Walsall defence.

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Athletic 1, Walsall 1
JASON Lowe’s late screamer gained Athletic a point on the day the team finally laid to rest distant fears of an unlikely relegation.

Despite being reduced in number by the dismissal of substitute Filipe Morais on 70 minutes – it wasn’t the cleanest of challenges on Jordan Cook, but a yellow card would have been enough punishment – Paul Dickov’s side earned a draw thanks to the on-loan player’s sizzling effort after 87 minutes.

Exchanging passes with midfield partner Dean Furman, Blackburn man Lowe was handed room on the edge of the area and put his right foot through the ball to send it flying past dazzled Walsall goalkeeper Jimmy Walker and into the roof of the net in front of the Chaddy End.

There were golden chances to increase the tally for both sides.

Warren Feeney hit the crossbar with a first-half header before seeing his follow-up disallowed on account of an offside flag, the impressive James Tarkowski hooked an effort narrowly wide when well placed and Jon Macken forced a pair of superb saves from Dean Brill, also appearing to handle a goalbound Reuben Reid shot in a second-half melee.

After recent experiences against Charlton and Yeovil, it was a major positive that Athletic responded well to a red card – even though this time, it was shown to one of their own.

For Walsall and their manager Dean Smith, though, this could very well be an afternoon on which brooding thoughts will turn should they end up being relegated.

Thanks to that red card and left-back Tom Williams’ free-kick shortly before the hour, which drifted over everyone inside the area from the right flank before ending up in the back of the net, three points had appeared to be in the bag.

Instead, they finished with one. It was enough to send the Saddlers a point and a place clear of the bottom-four, but a last-day trip to second-placed Southampton doesn’t bode well for the Midlands club’s chances of finishing outside the relegation places.

Athletic started with 18-year-old Carl Winchester in place of the injured Chris Taylor on the right of midfield – Dean Furman took the captain’s armband – and first-year scholar David Mellor, who operates at either left-back or in central midfield, was a late addition to the substitutes’ bench with Oumare Tounkara pulling out as a result of a knock to an ankle he took at Exeter.

The first meaningful action saw Feeney strike the goal frame. Kieran Lee, who came off injured at half-time, chipped in a cross which found the striker lurking at the far post. His header beat Walker and bounced off the crossbar, just out of the full reach of Furman who just got enough on the ball to see Feeney’s second effort, which found the net, ruled out for offside.

Macken forced Brill into a fingertip save with a low 20-yard shot and just after Tarkowski had guided his eight-yard shot on the turn off target, Athletic’s ‘keeper was called into action again when Macken was set through on goal by Jordan Cook.

The influential former team-mate of Dickov took the ball in his path perfectly with a great first touch. but Brill was soon on top of him and diverted the ball wide with a Schmeichel-esque save, spreading his body wide in front of the striker.

Macken teed up Julian Gray, who pulled a low shot horribly wide with his favoured left foot when well placed inside the area, the lively Cook drove high and wide and Saddlers centre-back Oliver Lancashire produced a timely saving tackle to prevent Feeney homing in on goal shortly before the interval.

Ritchie Jones replaced Lee at half-time, leaving Athletic, who had earlier swapped injured Cedric Evina for Morais, with an inexperienced back-line of Carl Winchester (18 years old), Jean-Yves Mvoto (22), Tarkowski (18) and Aidan White (19).

Lancashire headed wastefully wide from a Matt Richards corner four minutes into the half and at the other end, White forced a superb save from Walker when his 20-yard free-kick appeared to be heading for the top-right corner of goal.

Seven minutes into a frantic opening, Reid hit a shot which appeared to hit Macken’s hand inside the box before the Athletic striker failed to get enough on his volley from Winchester’s searching right-wing cross.

Williams’ goal was next and after Morais received his marching orders, the game meandered and appeared to be up for Athletic.

But with Mvoto causing a distraction after being thrown up front, Lowe earned the home side a draw they deserved.