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Walsall returned to action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Salford City to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for their fifth outing of the new League Two campaign.Looking to rebound from their disappointing midweek defeat to Grimsby Town, Head Coach Mat Sadler made a few changes, with new arrival Daniel Kanu named on the bench.
Walsall began the game brightly, creating their first half-chance of the afternoon, just one minute into the contest, as Evan Weir crossed the ball in for Aaron Pressley, whose header goal-wards failed to find the target, before Harrison Burke's follow-up from close range was blocked.
The hosts continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Vincent Harper crossing the ball into the box for Albert Adomah, just four minutes in, but the forward's effort sailed wide of the target. Shortly before a Connor Barrett cross found Pressley, whose header goal-wards from the centre of the box also went wide.
Things settled a little as play continued, but twelve minutes in, the Saddlers again worked the ball forwards, with Aden Flint heading a Jamie Jellis throw on for Pressley, whose headed effort from close range sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Salford began to grow into the game, seeing their first chance of the afternoon, in the fifteenth minute, as Ben Woodburn played the ball through to Cole Stockton, whose effort on goal was saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts. Although the flag was eventually raised, so any goal would not have stood.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything of note.
The Saddlers won a corner, in the thirty-first minute, as Jorge Grant turned the ball out of play. The flag-kick was delivered into the box by Weir, for Burke who was on hand to turn the ball past City shot-stopper, Matthew Young, to open the scoring, and secure his first goal in a Walsall shirt.
Salford looked to level the scores almost immediately, with Josh Austerfield firing a low shot in on goal, in the thirty-fourth minute, but Roberts was alert to the danger and made the save. The visitors tried again, just a minute later, as Kallum Cesay played the ball in for Rosaire Longelo, but the man between the sticks denied him too.
Vincent Harper became the first player to see yellow, in the thirty-seventh minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Longelo.
Walsall could have doubled their advantage, in the forty-fourth minute, as Pressley brought the ball down for Adomah, but his effort on goal lacked power and was easily saved by Young.
One additional minute was added to end the match, but there was no further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Salford got the action back underway. Both sides enjoyed spells on the ball in the early goings of the second-half, but neither were able to create anything of note.
Salford won a corner, in the fifty-sixth minute, as Flint turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as the Saddlers blocked the ball in.
Walsall opted to make their first changes of the game, as we reached the fifty-eighth minute, with Lewis Warrington, Jamie Jellis and Albert Adomah making way for Brandon Comley, Ryan Finnigan and new signing, Daniel Kanu.
Salford also took the opportunity to make a change to their line-up, with Josh Austerfield departing, in favour of Matt Butcher.
Butcher was quick to get involved in the action, firing an effort in on goal, from distance, just four minutes after his introduction into the game, but his shot sailed high and wide of the target.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position, in the sixty-seventh minute, as Harper was fouled by Woodburn. Weir floated the ball into the area from the set-piece, for Burke who headed on to Pressley, who somehow poked wide when he really should have scored. However, a raised flag spared his blushes.
Salford chose to make a second change to their line-up, twenty minutes from time, with Ben Woodburn making way for Jay Bird.
The Saddlers soon had the ball back in the danger zone, with a cross from Harper deflecting into the path of Kanu, but the Charlton Athletic loanee was unable to find the target, as Young saved.
Kanu then looked to turn provider, three minutes later, as he played the ball on for Charlie Lakin, whose effort on goal was blocked. Lakin then returned the favour, crossing to Kanu, whose header from the centre of the box was saved by Young.
City won a corner, in the seventy-seventh minute, as Burke put the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Roberts punched clear.
Ten minutes from time, Walsall again could have doubled their lead, as Comley raced forwards before laying the ball off for Pressley, but the striker could not beat Young, sending his effort straight into the waiting arms of the 'keeper.
The Saddlers should have extended their lead, four minutes later, as Weir crossed the ball into the box from a corner, finding the head of Flint, who turned the ball inches wide of the target, when he probably should have scored.
Walsall chose to introduce their final two substitutes in the eighty-seventh minute, with Connor Barrett and Aaron Pressley making way for Courtney Clarke and Jamille Matt.
Salford also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Adebola Oluwo being replaced by Tom Edwards.
The hosts again saw an opportunity to put the game to bed go begging, in the eighty-eighth minute, as Finnigan crossed the ball in for Flint, whose header goal-wards from close range was saved by Young.
Salford manager, Karl Robinson joined those with their name listed in the referee's notebook, in the eighty-ninth minute.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Rosaire Longelo was shown the yellow card following a foul on Brandon Comley, who was also booked for his response.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by one-goal-to-nil. A decent display from the Saddlers, who created many openings, but did only manage to convert one.
| BURKE (32') | |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JAMES OLDHAM |