Gillingham 1-0 Walsall - analysis: Lack of finesse and imagination in attack costs Saddlers

The last three trips had ended honours even, including two goalless stalemates, and this had all the ingredients of another bore draw. 

The winning goal itself was perhaps fitting for what descended into a scrappy, drab affair, and it was also avoidable from a Walsall perspective. 

Remeao Hutton hurled a dangerous long throw into the danger area, which Walsall failed to deal with at the near post. 

The ball eventually ricocheted into the feet of Gills defender Andy Smith, who with his back to goal, teed up Bradley Dack to dispatch his beyond beyond the reach of Saddlers shot-stopper Myles Roberts. 

To his credit, Gareth Ainsworth had clearly done his homework and played his tactics right. Gillingham had started in a 4-2-3-1 formation in their opening day draw against Accrington Stanley, whereas they switched to a 3-5-2 for the visit of Walsall. 

Former Blackburn midfielder Dack tucked inside to partner Robbie McKenzie in the centre of the park and Gills skipper Armani Little augmented the play from deep, with Joe Gbode and Elliott Nevitt leading the line. 

The Gills' back-three, in particular Shadrach Ogie, neutralised the threat of Walsall's front pair Jonny Stuttle and Aaron Pressley, while their man for man approach made it difficult for Walsall to create.

Stuttle and Pressley touched the ball just once in the opposition box, whereas Gordon failed to touch the ball in the Gills box at all.

The first half was virtually a non-event. Charlie Lakin blazed the best chance over the crossbar from the edge of the box and Dack posed the biggest threat for Gillingham. 

He sent a half-volley over the crossbar from distance and scuffed another chance wide from an acute angle following a scooped cross by Hutton to the back post. 

Walsall were largely disciplined and organised out of possession and Lewis Warrington screened the defence well and offered cover when required during the first half.

The midfielder was handed his full debut at the expense of the suspended Brandon Comley who was sent off on the opening day. 

Warrington did a lot of the dirty work that went unnoticed in the first half although he was less effective after the break. 

The issue was that Walsall lacked any finesse or imagination on the ball and looked hurried in possession. 

Ainsworth introduced target man Josh Andrews at half-time and he immediately occupied the Walsall defence more than Gbode did in the first half. 

His physical style particularly caused problems for young Rico Browne who looked a little overawed at times and was also guilty of panicking in possession in dangerous positions. 

Aden Flint still looked solid at the back but Walsall lacked the bravery in attack, which Mat Sadler conceded afterwards. 

There was a lack of advancing runs from the wing-backs, or the wide centre-backs, and Gillingham blocked off the centre of the pitch to prevent Jamie Jellis and Lakin from operating between the lines.

Perhaps the most concerning thing though was that the front-two that replaced Stuttle and Pressley struggled to make an impact too. 

Stuttle did have a chance just before he was replaced. He was rewarded for his endeavour when Conor Masterson went down after entering a footrace with the Bournemouth loanee. The teenager reached the ball first but his eventual effort was well blocked by Ogie.

Sadler made a triple change midway into the second half with the introductions of Courtney Clarke, Jamille Matt and Josh Gordon. 

Clarke was a bright spark once again, just as he was from the bench against Swindon in the opening fixture with his assist for Connor Barrett's stoppage time winner. 

The 22-year-old looks a really exciting prospect and at least brought some energy to an otherwise lethargic performance. He clearly loves taking his man on and looks to play the ball forward, but unfortunately the rest of the attack failed to match his endeavour. 

The final 25 minutes just seemed to pass Matt by while Josh Gordon squandered a great chance in the dying stages when he struck a tame finish into the midriff of Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris. 

Sadler did eventually dispense with his 3-5-2 system when he switched to a 4-3-3 for the closing stages but Gillingham successfully saw the win out. 

It just felt like one of the games where you just got the sense that the goal was never going to come for Walsall, which was also symptomatic of a number of games in the second half of last season.

Attentions will turn to the League Cup on Tuesday night when Walsall travel to the Bet365 Stadium to face Championship side Stoke City. 

The Saddlers reached the third round for the first time since 2015, after beating Exeter City and Huddersfield Town respectively in the early rounds.