A timely second-half equaliser from Kris Commons ensured the points were shared in a highly-eventful top-of-the-table clash.

The visitors took the lead through a Brian Wilson own goal shortly before the half-hour mark and failed to extend their lead when they had a penalty excellently saved by City 'keeper Ben Foster.

Commons made them pay on 64 minutes when his well-struck low drive from a narrow angle found the net.

The deadlock could have been broken as early as the eighth minute when Jermaine Palmer sprang the offside trap, allowing Chris Greenacre a clear shooting opportunity but his shot was scuffed.

It was the visitors, though, who opened the scoring when Mark Wright broke down the right before whipping the ball across the six-yard box and it deflected into the net off the unfortunate Wilson.

Wilson tried to made immediate amends with a shot which flashed just wide and then with a 25-yard free-kick which forced 'keeper Dean Coleman into action.

Ten minutes before the break Walsall were awarded a penalty for a push on striker Mario Lopez Solar, who took the kick himself, but Foster was down quickly to palm the ball away.

City started brightest in the second-half, with Wilson and Jay Denny creating chances before Commons cut into the penalty area to slot his shot past Coleman.

Commons then played a one-two with Andy Wilkinson, allowing Wilkinson to beat his marker, but his 20-yard chip sailed over.

Maximum points could have been clinched in the final five minutes when Palmer saw two separate headed chances go begging.

An otherwise decent performance was marred by an early injury to Greenacre, who left the field after just a quarter of an hour after a heavy tackle.

City: Foster, Wilson, Jones (Dickinson 45), Hill, Keogh, Williams, Wilkinson, Denny, Palmer, Greenacre (Teague 15), Commons. Subs (not used): Sanna, Fisher, Smith.