Manager Dean Smith dropped Downing for three outings following a recent nine game winless run that had seen the Saddlers slide out of play-off contention.
But central defender Downing celebrated his return to the starting line-up by scoring his first goal of the season in the fourteenth minute when he fired in Craig Westcarr's corner from twelve yards.
In the 78th minute though, he unwittingly deflected a long range effort from opposite number Nathan Clarke past helpless keeper Richard O'Donnell.
Smith still believes the Saddlers can keep their play-off dream alive. He said:
"We have to keep working hard and continue to believe."
But Smith was furious and blasted:
"We should've had a foul on Febian Brandy in the build up to their goal. It should've been all three points as their goal shouldn't have stood."
O's skipper Clarke had shut out Walsall twice before Downing's opener.
In the sixth minute Chelsea loanee winger Milan Lalkovic hit the post with a low shot from the edge of the box and Clarke lashed the ball clear as it ran along the goal line.
Three minutes later central defender Clarke blocked winger Brandy's angled goal bound effort from twelve yards.
And Downing made sure his goal counted when he cleared defender Mathieu Baudry's header off other line in the 42nd minute.
Both keepers kept the score down in the second half.
Orient stopper Eldon Jakpovic did well to beat away a twelve yard strike from Westcarr and then O'Donnell shut out both Chris Dagnall and co-striker David Mooney in the space of one minute.
Orient have now lost two games on the bounce and lost ground on table toppers Wolves and Brentford.
Boss Russell Slade admitted that the chance of an automatic promotion spot was fading and said:
"I think it's fair to say it's the play-offs, but we'll keep going, we won't stop. If we go into the play-offs we want go into them in the form we showed in the second half."
"We got a valuable point. It might not be enough, but they're a terrific group and they won't give up."
"We should've had a foul on Febian Brandy in the build up to their goal. It should've been all three points as their goal shouldn't have stood."
O's skipper Clarke had shut out Walsall twice before Downing's opener.
In the sixth minute Chelsea loanee winger Milan Lalkovic hit the post with a low shot from the edge of the box and Clarke lashed the ball clear as it ran along the goal line.
Three minutes later central defender Clarke blocked winger Brandy's angled goal bound effort from twelve yards.
And Downing made sure his goal counted when he cleared defender Mathieu Baudry's header off other line in the 42nd minute.
Both keepers kept the score down in the second half.
Orient stopper Eldon Jakpovic did well to beat away a twelve yard strike from Westcarr and then O'Donnell shut out both Chris Dagnall and co-striker David Mooney in the space of one minute.
Orient have now lost two games on the bounce and lost ground on table toppers Wolves and Brentford.
Boss Russell Slade admitted that the chance of an automatic promotion spot was fading and said:
"I think it's fair to say it's the play-offs, but we'll keep going, we won't stop. If we go into the play-offs we want go into them in the form we showed in the second half."
"We got a valuable point. It might not be enough, but they're a terrific group and they won't give up."
Nathan Clarke is hoping his lucky strike keeps Orient's automatic promotion hopes on track.
Central defender Clarke's 81st minute shot took a wicked deflection off opposite number Paul Downing to cancel out the Walsall player's first half opener, but the O's are now five points adrift with games running out.
Defiant skipper Clarke, 30, said:
"We've got to keep grinding out results because you never know what might happen. If we ease off and then the teams above us have a couple of bad results, we'll be kicking ourselves."
And Clarke admitted he felt for Downing. He said:
"It was tough on him because he had a really good game. It was one of those things. I'll still claim the goal though and I'll try not to lose too much sleep over it!"
Downing, 22, was pleased with his first goal of the season, but also to be back in Walsall's starting eleven after being rested for three games. He said:
"No-one likes to be dropped and I want to play every game, but the manager picks the team and he sees things differently.
"Perhaps if I held my hands up, I'd agree with him. I'd maybe got a little tired and started making one or two errors, so the break's helped me. I feel refreshed - mentally and physically."
Central defender Clarke's 81st minute shot took a wicked deflection off opposite number Paul Downing to cancel out the Walsall player's first half opener, but the O's are now five points adrift with games running out.
Defiant skipper Clarke, 30, said:
"We've got to keep grinding out results because you never know what might happen. If we ease off and then the teams above us have a couple of bad results, we'll be kicking ourselves."
And Clarke admitted he felt for Downing. He said:
"It was tough on him because he had a really good game. It was one of those things. I'll still claim the goal though and I'll try not to lose too much sleep over it!"
Downing, 22, was pleased with his first goal of the season, but also to be back in Walsall's starting eleven after being rested for three games. He said:
"No-one likes to be dropped and I want to play every game, but the manager picks the team and he sees things differently.
"Perhaps if I held my hands up, I'd agree with him. I'd maybe got a little tired and started making one or two errors, so the break's helped me. I feel refreshed - mentally and physically."
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