Analysis: Strong defensive foundations remain the backbone in resilient Walsall win

Mat Sadler needed a strong start to the season after the disappointing end to the previous campaign and five wins from the opening seven games is just the tonic. 

Walsall made it three 1-0 wins on the spin with their latest success over Chesterfield to move level on 15 points with fellow early pace setters Gillingham and Swindon Town respectively. 

Daniel Kanu opened his goal scoring account for Walsall in the 43rd-minute with what proved to be the winner, but they had to dig in once reduced to 10-men. 

Charlie Lakin was shown a second yellow card midway into the second half, with Sadler describing his first booking as a "disgraceful decision" afterwards. 

Yet Walsall were able to demonstrate their resilient streak and tame any storm that Chesterfield were expected to inflict. 

3 clean sheets in a row for Walsall

Instead, Myles Roberts went largely untested and that was a credit to the Walsall defence, who have not conceded for 292 minutes in League Two (excluding additional time). 

The Saddlers have conceded the fewest goals in the division (four goals) - an average of just 0.6 per 90 in League Two.

Chesterfield had over twice as many touches inside the opposition box (28) but failed to register a single shot on target.

Aden Flint was key (again)

Sadler has clearly settled in his back-three and Aden Flint is a key anchor in the middle. He just provides a calmness, which is exactly what the young players around him need. 

Lewis Warrington spoke of the importance of having someone of his experience and knowhow behind him prior to the game and Flint's influence on the rest of the team cannot be underestimated. 

Harrison Burke and Evan Weir, especially the latter, excelled either side of him, while Vincent Harper is continuing to prove why he looks a really strong signing. 

Harper got through some great down both defensively and offensively and won nine of his 12 duels, completing the joint-most tackles (four). 

Possession is just a number

A familiar theme is playing out again and Chesterfield's possession-based style suited Walsall perfectly. 

In the end, Walsall finished the game with just 26 per cent possession, even less than they registered in the previous wins at MK Dons (34%), Salford City (29%), Barnet (34%), and the same as they did in their opener against Swindon. 

Just as they did in the latter, Walsall had to survive with 10-men. The Saddlers have posted the lowest average possession figures (34.4%) in League Two but continue to find ways of winning games. 

Walsall were on top for the majority of the first half and looked a threat once again from set pieces with Flint, Burke and Lakin all heading off target. 

Daniel Kanu off the mark

Chesterfield had a brief period in the ascendency but that was tamed once Kanu scored the decisive goal on the cusp of half-time. 

Connor Barrett launched the ball forward with a low pass into the right channel. Kanu pivoted, spinning his man in style, before closing down Kyle McFadzean to continue his charge into the box. 

From there, the Charlton Athletic loanee picked up his head and remained composed to plant an unerring finish beyond the despairing dive of Zach Hemming. 

The ball nestled nicely into the left hand bottom corner and Kanu celebrated wildly with the two-tier stand behind the goal. 

It was important for the 20-year-old to get off the mark so early in his loan and hopefully it will set the tone for many more to come. 

The goals have been shared out in the opening stages of the season with no fewer than eight different goal scorers across the first nine games in all competitions. 

But goals for the strikers are key and Kanu and Aaron Pressley appear to have all the ingredients for an exciting attacking partnership. 

A pacy striker playing off the target man is hardly pioneering, or revolutionary, but it can have a devastating effect. 

Pressley can be trusted to occupy markers, win the majority of his aerial battles and act as a foil to bring others into play. 

He is also mobile enough to contribute significantly to the press and creates space for himself inside the box. 

If he can show a little more composure and finesse in front of goal then his impact for Walsall will only increase. 

The paradoxical styles between Pressley and Kanu appear to complement each other well and Albert Adomah came on for the closing stages to provide an injection of energy in attack. 

Wise subs

Sadler used his bench wisely. Ryan Finnigan played well on his first league start but faded somewhat after the break and was just maybe a split-second off in terms of the timings of his tackles. 

Brandon Comley provided experience in the centre of the park once he came on and wing-back Jid Okeke did a job out of position in midfield, as fellow substitute Courtney Clarke moved over to the left.

Although Chesterfield had the numerical advantage, there was rarely many occasions where Walsall felt under serious threat. 

Walsall succeeded in their quest to frustrate the visitors and once again showcased many different sides to their game to emerge with maximum points.