Penalty claims ignored

Walsall and Peterborough were united in their claims they should have had penalties during their 0-0 draw.

The Saddlers extended their unbeaten run to five games while Posh ended a run of three league defeats with Sir Alex Ferguson supporting son and Peterborough boss Darren at the Banks's Stadium. Walsall manager Dean Smith said of their 88th minute penalty claim: "Their defender (Ricardo Santos) as good as carried the ball into the box. We were totally dominant today so it feels like two points lost. "Performance levels were good it was only the finishing that was missing." Walsall missed top-scorer Tom Bradshaw who was out with a hamstring injury which Smith said affected a muscle normally associated with injuries suffered by ballet dancers. Posh's Ferguson thought both handball incidents were clear penalties, but referee Andy Woolner had said he didn't see them . The visitors insisted Walsall defender Ben Purkiss handled following a 90th minute long throw into the box. Ferguson added: "It was a hard fought point, very much so, and it was positive in terms of a clean sheet against a good Walsall team. It's something to build on. We should have had a penalty for a clear handball. "I have been here for seven or eight years and never played for a draw in my life. I am a very positive manager. Just at the moment, whether it's lack of confidence or whatever, we are lacking a bit of quality on the ball, but a clean sheet is a real bonus. We have made inquiries about players because I have only got 16 outfield players fit. "We dug in though and this is a hard place to come against a team with some good footballers. But I am never too happy after a drawn game." Smith added: "Sometimes you have to give credit to their defence because they defended really well and got numbers behind the ball. The pleasing thing for me is that we have had three tough games in a week and come though unbeaten, but I am disappointed we have not picked up three points. "I'm not sure if Tom Bradshaw would have made any difference because Mathieu Manset ran his socks off and put in a really hard working display. "Our keeper (Richard O'Donnell) hasn't had a save to make, but you have to give a lot of credit to the two centre halves (Paul Downing and James Chambers)." Conor Washington did have the ball in the net for Posh in the third minute, but the whistle had already gone for offside, while Walsall had chances which Romaine Sawyers and Manset put wide, and in the 57th minute Anthony Forde was just off target with a fierce drive.