Armand’s hammer blow not riling Jon
WALSALL boss Jon Whitney hailed a point at Bloomfield Road, despite his side conceding late on to draw at Blackpool.
Strikes from Joe Edwards and Jon Guthrie either side of Nathan Delfouneso’s initial equaliser looked to had given the Saddlers all three points.
But substitute Armand Gnanduillet’s dramatic late equaliser salvaged a point for the Seasiders.
Whitney said: “The lads are disappointed obviously because that late on, it always feels like a loss when you concede.
“But I think, in the grand scheme of things, I think a point is fair.
“They put us under pressure at times – they were quite direct – but I can’t fault the application and the work ethic from our players.
“To come away from home and get a good solid point to take into a home game is positive, so I’m happy for the players.
“I am disappointed, of course, but I can’t fault the application of our players, so we can’t grumble at that.”
Early chances fell to Blackpool, with Curtis Tilt seeing his header cleared off the line by Guthrie before Kyle Vassell volleyed over the crossbar.
Visiting Walsall led on 28 minutes as vicecaptain Edwards netted his fifth goal of the season when he met Kieron Morris’ pinpoint driven cross from the right to side-foot beyond goalkeeper Joe Lumley from inside the penalty area.
The hosts were back level nine minutes later courtesy of Delfouneso after the forward found space in the area before drilling past Saddlers stopper Liam Roberts.
In the second half, Sean Longstaff and Dan Agyei went close before Walsall regained their advantage on 76 minutes when George Dobson’s corner from the left fell to defender Guthrie, who prodded home at the back post.
Blackpool levelled in the 88th minute when Gnanduillet slammed across goal after being fed through by Agyei and the Seasiders almost won it in stoppage time but Guthrie was on hand again to deny Clark Robertson.
Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer said: “It was another frustrating afternoon but from an attacking point of view, we were very good, with the chances we created.
“We have had three cleared off the line, had a stonewall penalty not given, so it was a very frustrating.
“We gave it away cheap in our half for the first goal.
“The second goal went out for a throw-in and he’s given a corner but once he’s given that corner, we have to defend it.”