Salop had to settle for a point away at league leaders Walsall on Saturday afternoon.

Daniel Kanu opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute.

But from there on out, it was almost all Shrewsbury, and they got their reward just after the hour mark thanks to Tom Anderson's first goal for the club.

The centre-back took aim from 20 yards and wrong-footed the goalkeeper with what proved to be the goal that secured a deserved point.

Team news:

Boss Appleton stuck with the 3-4-1-2 formation that secured a point against Grimsby in midweek. 

Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels rejoined the starting XI following suspension, replacing Sam Stubbs, who was suspended, and Tommy McDermott.

The Burnley loanee dropped to the bench and Tom Sang returned to the squad after injury.

This meant Luca Hoole, Anderson and Boyle were the back three with Ismeal Kabia and Sam Clucas as wing-backs.

Ruffles partnered with Taylor Perry in midfield while Anthony Scully was the 10.

George Lloyd and John Marquis were the strike force.

Walsall lined up with the division's top goalscorer, Kanu, up top and former Salop midfielder Ryan Finnigan in the middle of the park.

Report:

The hosts started fiercely, with Kanu continuing his fine run of form with a rocket from the edge of the box that cracked the bottom of the crossbar on its way in with just four minutes on the clock.

He could've had his second moments later if it weren't for a fantastic save from Will Brook in the Town goal, who did well to hold Kanu's effort from eight yards.

After the slow start, Salop worked to get a foothold in the game and they controlled the majority of possession for the remainder of the first half-hour.

However, they couldn't force Walsall keeper Myles Roberts into action, mustering only a series of low crosses into the box that were cleared before a blue and amber shirt could make contact.

The Saddlers seemed quite happy to sit on their lead and soak up the pressure. The best chances they had to double their advantage came from a handful of free kicks which were either headed wide or straight at Brook.

As the match entered extra time, Shrewsbury had their clearest opportunity yet as Lloyd's shot from the edge of the box was partially blocked by a defender.

The rebound fell to Kabia, but he couldn't get the desired connection, and his effort was also blocked.

Salop started the second half just as they had ended the first and carved out another great chance.

This time, it came from a wonderful passing move that flowed throughout the Walsall half until Ruffels played it to Scully.

Town's number 11 turned his man and bent his shot towards the bottom right-hand corner of Roberts' goal from 18 yards.

Fortunately for the hosts, the goalkeeper was equal to it and palmed the shot around the post.

Shrewsbury continued to have the best of the chances as Hoole knuckleballed a free-kick and Lloyd took aim with a powerful header, but Roberts was again in position to keep his team in the lead.

However, there was nothing he could do about the next shot from a Town player, as Anderson's low drive hit a divot in the pitch and wrong-footed Roberts in the 65th minute, deservedly drawing Shrewsbury level.

Walsall responded within 10 minutes as Courtney Clarke struck the top of the crossbar from a tight angle.

And they kept up the pressure as they searched for a snatched victory.

Appleton made his first substitution at this point, replacing Perry with McDermott in the middle of the park.

But this proved to be the last of the action as Town settled for a point at the league leaders.

Teams:

Walsall: Roberts, Barrett, Flint, Farquharson, Matt (Adomah 69), Comley, Kanu (Richards 82), Clarke, Harper, Finnigan (Jellis 69), Weir

Subs not used: Hornby, Lakin, Warrington, Browne

Shrewsbury: Brook, Boyle, Anderson, Hoole, Clucas, Kabia, Perry (McDermott 83), Ruffels, Scully, Marquis, Lloyd

Subs not used: Harrison, Benning, Sang, Aneke, England, Gray

Attendance: 7,342 (1,199)