Walsall 1 Hereford United 1 STEVE Guinan’s second-half penalty gave Hereford a draw, which was the least they deserved at the Bescot Stadium.

United boss Graham Turner had two changes forced upon him.

With Lionel Ainsworth recalled by Watford to be transferred to Huddersfield, his loan replacement from Bristol City, Jennison Myrie-Williams, slotted in on the right of midfield.

And with Manchester United loanee Sam Hewson ruled out by a groin injury, Ben Smith earned a recall to central midfield.

Walsall made much of the early running and, after Troy Deeney had sent a shot a yard, Jabo Ibehre headed just over.

The Saddlers, eager to impress new boss Chris Hutchings, forced five corners in the opening exchanges but the Hereford defence held firm.

Hereford gradually settled and should have opened the scoring on 23 minutes.

Andy Williams seized on a slip by Anthony Gerrard and raced into the Walsall area.

As he rounded Clayton Ince, the keeper brought him down and, although Williams got to his feet, his shot was blocked away by a defender.

Only referee Karl Evans will know why he did not give a penalty.

Shortly afterwards, Myrie-Williams, who produced some threatening runs, cut through the Saddlers defence before shooting back across goal.

But the winger’s effort grazed a post and went behind.

Kris Taylor’s curling free-kick, after a foul on Williams, was comfortably held by Ince.

And Williams sent a volley flashing just wide after a superb pass from Steve Guinan sent him away.

But, to prove the old adage that you have to score in your good spells, Walsall broke out to claim the first goal.

The dangerous Sofiene Zaaboub cut through the Bulls defence and delivered a cross which Deeney could not fail to convert from three yards.

Guinan saw a shot saved well just after the goal but Hereford’s luck was out again a minute before the interval.

Williams got around the back of the defence and dragged the ball back to Smith whose shot from 15 yards was cleared off the line by defender Chris Palmer with Ince beaten.

Hereford started the second period with a flourish as Taylor sent a 25-yarder skimming inches over.

But the Bulls were luck not to fall two-behind two minutes into the half.

Deeney’s 20-yard shot deflected off Josh Gowling and keeper Craig Samson could only watch as the ball struck the inside of a post before he could retrieve it.

Hereford’s luck was out a minute later at the other end when they were thwarted by a superb Ince ave.

The keeper reacted brilliantly to dive and hold Karl Broadhurst’s point-blank header from a Taylor cross.

The Bulls were level, however, 12 minutes into the half.

Matt Done continued his run into the area after laying off the ball and was brought down.

This looked a far less clear decision than the one not given in the first period but Evans pointed to the spot and Steve Guinan fired in his 10th goal of the season.

A Smith volley was well saved as Hereford tried to build on the goal but, at the other end, an effort from Deeney flashed inches over Samson’s bar.

Hereford had a let-off in the 75th minute when only a combination of the woodwork and Samson kept out Zaabooub’s shot.

Walsall pressed forward in search of the win, but Hereford’s threat on the break made it an exciting conclusion.

Mark Bradley headed inches over as the game moved into added time but the award of the home man-of-the-match prize to Ince said plenty about the Bulls display.

Hereford: Samson; Rose, Broadhurst, Gowling, Taylor; Myrie-Williams, Smith, Diagouraga, Done; Guinan, Williams (Johnson, 90 min). Subs not used: Veiga, Jackson, Beckwith, Gwynne.

Walsall: Ince; Palmer, Gerrard, Smith, Taundry; Nicholls, Bradley, Mattis, Zaaboub (Reich, 75 min); Ibehre, Deeney. Subs not used: Boertien, Sansara, Davies, Gilmartin.

Referee: Karl Evans (Manchester).

Attendance: 4,434 (899 from Hereford).

Yellow cards: Hereford – Rose, foul, 20 min; Taylor, 55 min, foul; Walsall – Taundry, 82 min, dissent.

Goals: Deeney, 33 min, 1-0; Guinan pen, 58 min, 1-1;