Tony Humes helped Colchester United claim their first point since the opening day of the season after his side played out a 0-0 draw with Walsall in his first game in charge.

Honours were even at the Bescot Stadium in a match where defences were on top and neither side did enough to win the match, as the U's kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Colchester came a lick of paint away from taking a 12th-minute lead when Freddie Sears' low effort from the edge of the area bounced back off the foot of a post, after a good build-up.

But Walsall came close themselves soon after through Tom Bradshaw, whose header from Billy Clifford's free-kick clipped the top of the bar.

Walsall skipper Adam Chambers side-footed a good chance wide for the home side but Colchester looked the more dangerous attacking force, with both Sears and Sammie Szmodics having goalbound efforts blocked in the area.

Mathieu Manset went close for the Saddlers before half-time but the U's had a big penalty shout turned down in the opening two minutes of the second half after Sanchez Watt went down under Paul Downing's challenge in the area.

The game became more stretched as the second half wore on and the U's sent young striker Dominic Smith on for his senior debut, in their attempts to try and find a winner.

U's keeper Sam Walker made a fine save to push away Walsall substitute Anthony Forde's free-kick in the closing stages and Bradshaw screwed a good opening wide for the home side but the spoils were shared.

For five pages of coverage of the U's game at Walsall, including a full report, pictures, analysis and reaction, see Monday's Daily Gazette.