On Tuesday evening, Sean O'Driscoll's Saddlers took on Scunthorpe United as they looked to get their push for promotion to the Sky Bet Championship back on track. You can read our match report below.
It was the Saddlers who got us under way, but the visitors who saw the first effort of the game, O'Brien only able to send the ball over the bar.
Walsall's first attack of the match came by way of a Lalkovic cross which was just too heavy for Sawyers or Bradshaw. The visitors were able to clear the resulting corner, conceding a second corner in the process. Madden was able to clear the danger.
With nine minutes played, Walsall launched their second attack of the match, Downing and Mantom combining to set Sawyers away, Sawyers cross was too strong for Bradshaw. Some excellent early work from the Saddlers.
Andy Taylor called Luke Daniels into action in the twelfth minute, with a dipping 30-yard strike. Taylor's shot took a deflection, but Daniels was able to tip the ball over the bar. The resulting corner was easily cleared.
The hosts kept pressure on the visitors, with Sawyers, Chambers and Mantom combining to win a free-kick in a dangerous position. Daniels was twice able to punch clear to alleviate the pressure and eventually this allowed United to break.
Madden and Townsend worked well to create space for O'Brien, who sent in a controlled shot which was easily saved by Etheridge.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell of possession, culminating in a 25-yard Madden free-kick, which cleared the wall, but was easily gathered by Etheridge.
With twenty-six minutes on the clock, the ball fell to Bradshaw in the box, he was able to get his shot away but Daniels was able to tip the ball over the bar. Bradshaw got his head to the ball from the resulting corner but it fell kindly for the waiting 'keeper who was able to gather.
The pace slowed a little as Walsall kept possession and sought to build an attack but were unable to penetrate the Scunthorpe defences. Eventually the Saddlers were able to create something, as Bradshaw got a shot away. It was deflected wide and Demetriou's shot from the resulting corner was blocked.
The Saddlers continued to apply pressure, with Forde sending in a shot from distance which was blocked by a well-drilled Scunthorpe defence.
With thirty-six minutes played, the Irons enjoyed a chance of their own with O'Brien and Clarke combining to set up Madden, who sent his shot wide of the mark.
Neil Etheridge was again called into action in the final minute of the half as O'Brien almost got on the end of a through ball from Madden; the Saddlers stopper was able to clear the danger and the remaining moments of the half were played out without event.
The scores remained level as time was called on the half. Some good play from both teams, but nothing to separate them at the break.
Scunthorpe made the opening change of the game at half-time, with Tom Hopper replacing Greg Luer, who looked to be nursing a knock.
The visitors got us back under way, Walsall enjoyed the first shot of the half though, a long range effort from Lalkovic which was blocked by Wallace, allowing the visitors to push the Saddlers back into their own half before dispossessing them.
Scunthorpe enjoyed a spell of possession, with O'Brien and Townsend combining well and Hopper feeding Madden who send a shot wide. Bishop also had an effort on goal, which was blocked. Some good play from the Iron.
With fifty minutes on the clock, a round of applause rang round the stadium in memory of Saddlers supporter Adrian Evans, on what would have been his 50th birthday. A lovely tribute to a much missed member of the Saddlers family.
With fifty-six minutes played, Forde managed to carry the ball to the edge of the box, where Ness delayed his shot long enough for the Irons defence to get back and block his eventual shot. A few minutes later, Madden was allowed space to break, his cross was well intercepted by Downing.
Shortly after the hour mark, Lalkovic sent in a shot which was deflected wide of the far post. Taylor headed the ball straight at the waiting 'keeper from the resulting corner.
A few minutes later, a lovely through ball from O'Brien found Townsend, who sent his shot across goal. Etheridge was beaten but luckily for the Saddlers the ball went wide.
The visitors pressed again, with Townsend turning provider to set up Hopper. Etheridge did well to send the ball out for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.
In the seventieth minute, Walsall opted to make their opening substitutions with Kieron Morris and Rico Henry coming on in place of Milan Lalkovic and Anthony Forde.
Henry was quick to get involved in the action, but found himself unable to get on the end of a Demetriou cross thanks to some good defending by Clarke.
With seventy-seven minutes up, Walsall won a free-kick which was taken by Taylor. The ball fell first to Downing, then to Sawyers who saw his shot blocked, the ball going out for a corner. The corner was taken short and the ball fell to Kieron Morris whose left-footed strike found the crossbar.
Ten minutes before full-time, Scunthorpe made their second change of the game, bringing on McSheffrey in place of O'Brien.
In the eighty-second minute, Etheridge found himself unable to hold from Clarke's cross, the resulting shot from Hopper was cleared off the line by Downing. The visitors so close to opening the scoring but appeals that the ball had crossed the line were waved away.
Two minutes after this, the Iron opted to make their final change of the evening, replacing Jordan Clarke with Scott Wiseman.
The final six or so minutes of the ninety were fairly uneventful. The visitors saw a thirty-yard shot from Hopper sail wide of goal and the hosts saw a Morris shot blocked. The Three additional minutes were also a largely uneventful affair and the match ended it as it began, all square.
Walsall's first attack of the match came by way of a Lalkovic cross which was just too heavy for Sawyers or Bradshaw. The visitors were able to clear the resulting corner, conceding a second corner in the process. Madden was able to clear the danger.
With nine minutes played, Walsall launched their second attack of the match, Downing and Mantom combining to set Sawyers away, Sawyers cross was too strong for Bradshaw. Some excellent early work from the Saddlers.
Andy Taylor called Luke Daniels into action in the twelfth minute, with a dipping 30-yard strike. Taylor's shot took a deflection, but Daniels was able to tip the ball over the bar. The resulting corner was easily cleared.
The hosts kept pressure on the visitors, with Sawyers, Chambers and Mantom combining to win a free-kick in a dangerous position. Daniels was twice able to punch clear to alleviate the pressure and eventually this allowed United to break.
Madden and Townsend worked well to create space for O'Brien, who sent in a controlled shot which was easily saved by Etheridge.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell of possession, culminating in a 25-yard Madden free-kick, which cleared the wall, but was easily gathered by Etheridge.
With twenty-six minutes on the clock, the ball fell to Bradshaw in the box, he was able to get his shot away but Daniels was able to tip the ball over the bar. Bradshaw got his head to the ball from the resulting corner but it fell kindly for the waiting 'keeper who was able to gather.
The pace slowed a little as Walsall kept possession and sought to build an attack but were unable to penetrate the Scunthorpe defences. Eventually the Saddlers were able to create something, as Bradshaw got a shot away. It was deflected wide and Demetriou's shot from the resulting corner was blocked.
The Saddlers continued to apply pressure, with Forde sending in a shot from distance which was blocked by a well-drilled Scunthorpe defence.
With thirty-six minutes played, the Irons enjoyed a chance of their own with O'Brien and Clarke combining to set up Madden, who sent his shot wide of the mark.
Neil Etheridge was again called into action in the final minute of the half as O'Brien almost got on the end of a through ball from Madden; the Saddlers stopper was able to clear the danger and the remaining moments of the half were played out without event.
The scores remained level as time was called on the half. Some good play from both teams, but nothing to separate them at the break.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 | HALF TIME
WALSALL 0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0
Scunthorpe made the opening change of the game at half-time, with Tom Hopper replacing Greg Luer, who looked to be nursing a knock.
The visitors got us back under way, Walsall enjoyed the first shot of the half though, a long range effort from Lalkovic which was blocked by Wallace, allowing the visitors to push the Saddlers back into their own half before dispossessing them.
Scunthorpe enjoyed a spell of possession, with O'Brien and Townsend combining well and Hopper feeding Madden who send a shot wide. Bishop also had an effort on goal, which was blocked. Some good play from the Iron.
With fifty minutes on the clock, a round of applause rang round the stadium in memory of Saddlers supporter Adrian Evans, on what would have been his 50th birthday. A lovely tribute to a much missed member of the Saddlers family.
With fifty-six minutes played, Forde managed to carry the ball to the edge of the box, where Ness delayed his shot long enough for the Irons defence to get back and block his eventual shot. A few minutes later, Madden was allowed space to break, his cross was well intercepted by Downing.
Shortly after the hour mark, Lalkovic sent in a shot which was deflected wide of the far post. Taylor headed the ball straight at the waiting 'keeper from the resulting corner.
A few minutes later, a lovely through ball from O'Brien found Townsend, who sent his shot across goal. Etheridge was beaten but luckily for the Saddlers the ball went wide.
The visitors pressed again, with Townsend turning provider to set up Hopper. Etheridge did well to send the ball out for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.
In the seventieth minute, Walsall opted to make their opening substitutions with Kieron Morris and Rico Henry coming on in place of Milan Lalkovic and Anthony Forde.
Henry was quick to get involved in the action, but found himself unable to get on the end of a Demetriou cross thanks to some good defending by Clarke.
With seventy-seven minutes up, Walsall won a free-kick which was taken by Taylor. The ball fell first to Downing, then to Sawyers who saw his shot blocked, the ball going out for a corner. The corner was taken short and the ball fell to Kieron Morris whose left-footed strike found the crossbar.
Ten minutes before full-time, Scunthorpe made their second change of the game, bringing on McSheffrey in place of O'Brien.
In the eighty-second minute, Etheridge found himself unable to hold from Clarke's cross, the resulting shot from Hopper was cleared off the line by Downing. The visitors so close to opening the scoring but appeals that the ball had crossed the line were waved away.
Two minutes after this, the Iron opted to make their final change of the evening, replacing Jordan Clarke with Scott Wiseman.
The final six or so minutes of the ninety were fairly uneventful. The visitors saw a thirty-yard shot from Hopper sail wide of goal and the hosts saw a Morris shot blocked. The Three additional minutes were also a largely uneventful affair and the match ended it as it began, all square.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 | RESULT
WALSALL 0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0
ATTENDANCE | 3,868 (155 Scunthorpe United)REFEREE | Mr. Geoff Eltringham | County Durham