Gretna 0 Walsall 0

Walsall boss Dean Smith today hailed the success of the Saddlers' Scottish trip – and insisted the race is on to make his starting XI.

The Saddlers were held 0-0 by Gretna 2008 FC last night as they wrapped up their tour north of the border. Jon Macken and Oliver Lancashire had efforts cleared off the line while Joey Butlin tested Grant Conor in the second half.

Gretna – formed three years ago when their former incarnation went bust after reaching the SPL – rarely threatened.

And Smith said, ahead of Wolves' visit on Tuesday, the players have the next two weeks to make the team for the League One opener with Leyton Orient on August 6.

He said: "I'll know what the first XI will be in the week leading up to the season. The players have all worked really hard, the training sessions have been fantastic and they have all put the effort in.

"We've got a good set of lads and hopefully it'll pay dividends come the start of the season. I don't think anything about last night will be a judgement on any of the players or when I'll be selecting teams next week."

The Saddlers beat Greenock Morton 2-0 on Wednesday, spending the week training at the University of Stirling, and Smith saluted their efforts.

He said: "It's gone really, really well. It's gone better than I expected because we had decent weather! The lads worked really hard and we're really pleased with what we got out of it. Last night wasn't much of a spectacle and there were a few meaty tackles flying in so the lads had to look after themselves, which they did. ."

Smith made wholesale changes against the East of Scotland League First Division champions. Lancashire, Macken, Jimmy Walker, Kevan Hurst, Claude Gnakpa, Lee Beevers, Connor Deards and Adam Chambers, who took the armband, all started following the 2-0 win at Morton. Skipper Andy Butler wasn't risked after picking up a minor toe injury.

Gnakpa and Hurst were both off target with long-range sighters as the Saddlers dominated the first half.

Walsall, comfortable and confident in possession, rarely allowed their hosts the ball but had to wait for openings. Macken and Lancashire had efforts hacked off the line before the lively Hurst had Conor Grant scrambling just before the break. Deards limped off with a cut foot in the first half and six substitutions at the interval halted the Saddlers' flow.

They had to wait until the 75th minute to conjure a chance – only for Butlin to be denied by Conor.

Gretna (4-4-2): Grant; Rea (Sam Atkinson), Jardine, Ingles (Nugent, 87), Wood; Rayson, Cumersley, Addison (MacDonald, 60), Renyard; Bowman (McMarth, 60), Storrey. Substitutes not used: Jim Atkinson (gk), Seggie, Davidson, Coomb, Crozier, Simpson.

Walsall (4-4-2): Walker (Grof, 46); Beevers (Paterson, 80), Lancashire, Smith (Bowerman, 85), Sadler (Westlake, 46); Gnakpa (Jones, 46), Peterlin (Taundry, 46), Chambers (Forde, 71), Hurst (Nicholls, 46); Macken (Butlin, 46), Deards (Jarvis, 34, Grigg, 75).