Gillingham halt five-game losing run and dent Walsall’s play-off hopes with draw

Gillingham halted a five-game losing run in Sky Bet League Two with a 2-2 draw at Walsall that dented the hosts’ play-off hopes.

Daniel Kanu’s 15th league goal of the season earned the Saddlers a point after Ronan Hale and Seb Palmer-Houlden had turned the game in the Gills’ favour following Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s opener.

Walsall led after 21 minutes as Courtney Clarke’s trickery down the left created space for a cross that on-loan Fulham forward Loupalo-Bi converted with a looping header.

The visitors levelled in the 50th minute as Hale exchanged passes with Garath McCleary before slotting a cool finish past Walsall goalkeeper Myles Roberts from 12 yards.

Gillingham went in front after 63 minutes when Palmer-Houlden prodded into an empty net after Roberts dropped a cross when colliding with his own defender.

Walsall levelled three minutes later, with Kanu’s close-range effort adjudged to have crossed the line after a deep corner caused chaos.

Gillingham’s Andy Smith and Saddlers substitute Albert Adomah both went close to a winner but the Gills remain 17th and Walsall drop to 11th, three points off the play-off spots.