DARREN Wrack's late leveller earned Walsall an unlikely share of the Dean Court spoils - and extended Cherries' dismal start to the season in front of their own fans.

The Saddlers midfielder popped up to net an equaliser just nine minutes from time as the visitors condemned Cherries to a seventh successive winless home return.

His opportunist close-range effort cancelled out Jo Kuffour's first-half opener, which had looked destined to haul Cherries off the foot of the League One table.

Kuffour netted his fourth goal of the season after 20 minutes as Cherries deservedly reached the interval in the ascendancy.

But despite also enjoying the better of the second half, Cherries were made to pay as Wrack robbed them of a desperately-needed first home league win.

A cagey start by both sides saw little goalmouth action during the early stages, with Lee Bradbury's blocked shot the only effort of note.

But Kuffour brought proceedings to life when he finished off a sweeping move by breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes.

The 25-year-old drilled home his fourth goal of the season from close range after the Walsall defence had failed to clear Paul Telfer's cross.

Darren Anderton then fired a free kick straight at Clayton Ince before the Saddlers mustered their first attack on 31 minutes.

Edrissa Sonko's first-time drive from Tommy Mooney's cross struck Danny Hollands, while Neil Moss saved smartly from Michael Dobson's follow-up shot.

And as the visitors again threatened, Anthony Gerrard's bullet header from Danny Fox's corner flashed past the upright.

But as a Cherries-dominated opening period drew to a close, Bradbury warmed Ince's hands with a stinging 30-yard volley.

At the start of the second half, Fox's crucial header took Anderton's cross off the boot of Kuffour before Gerrard's glancing header found Moss's hands.

Kuffour should have threatened the Walsall goal after 53 minutes, but totally missed his kick as he looked to convert Adam Lallana's centre.

Disaster struck for Cherries when Wrack arrived to divert Mark Bradley's cross past Moss from six yards nine minutes from time.

And although Cherries went tantalisingly close to restoring their lead during a grandstand finish, they could not find a way past Walsall's giant goalkeeper Ince.