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Walsall 1 Scunthorpe 0 - Report and pictures

An outrageous overhead kick from centre back James Clarke handed Walsall their second win on the bounce against Scunthorpe.

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More than 4,000 fans watched on at the Banks’s in what was proving to be a frustrating afternoon.

Both sides defended well throughout the game, limiting the amount of attacking chances.

But mid-way through the second half skipper James Clarke delivered the acrobatics from a Danny Guthrie cross - handing the Saddlers their second win and second clean sheet in two games.

Darrell Clarke stuck with the same 4-4-2 formation for the third game running, making one change from the 1-0 win at Morecambe, with Wes McDonald replacing Liam Kinsella on the left of midfield for his first start of the season.

Stuart Sinclair kept his place in the middle of the park alongside Danny Guthrie, while Zak Jules started in left-back and Garry Liddle on the right.

Caolan Lavery and Rory Gaffney kept their places up top.

There was also a change on the bench with Callum Cockerill-Mollett replacing Mat Sadler.

Paul Hurst’s Scunthorpe also started with a 4-4-2 following their comeback 2-2 draw at home to Oldham on Tuesday.

They made two changes with Ryan Colclough and George Miller replacing Abo Eisa and Jamie Proctor after picking up four points in their last two games.

Walsall started the game in the same vein as the win at Morecambe, getting on the front foot early.

The majority of the play was coming through McDonald, who was using his speed and trickery to commit defenders early on - offering a much different threat on the wing than in previous weeks.

But it was Scunthorpe who posed the biggest threat early on. Nothing clear-cut was created, but Alex Gilliead and Colclough were causing Walsall issues down the wings, with several dangerous crosses being swung in that were just missing the final touch.

The tall and powerful central midfielders Yann Songo’o and Matty Lund were dominating play and picking up the second balls, pushing the Saddlers back.

The big chance of the first 15 minutes, however, fell to Lavery. Guthrie played a delightful chip to the striker who cut in from the right and curled his effort just wide of the post from the edge of the box.

Within five minutes of the chance Lavery was forced off with an injury and was replaced by Josh Gordon.

The first half and hour saw limited chances for either side, to the frustration of both sets of fans, with both defences nullifying the attacking intent.

But The Iron continued to pose a threat from their crosses - when a Gillead cross was met by Kevin van Veen. The Dutch striker sent his header just over the bar.

Home fans were left even more frustrated as the first half came to a close with both defences keeping attackers quiet. The saving grace from the opening 45 minutes was the performance of McDonald who offered the Saddlers’ best attacking threat.

The Saddlers started the second half hearing shouts of “press” from manager Darrell Clarke, with the boss looking for a reaction.

Gordon almost provided that spark within seconds after some tenacious back-tracking saw the striker win the ball in midfield. He fed Rory Holden but the winger failed to play in Gordon who had made a run through the centre - before the chance fizzled out.

Gaffney then went close himself after meeting a Guthrie free-kick with a powerful header - putting it just wide of the post.

Just after the hour mark Liam Roberts was forced into his first real save of the match, pushing away a shot from van Veen from the edge of the box.

The breakthrough finally came minutes later with an outrageous finish from centre back James Clarke.

Guthrie lifted in a cross from the right side which was met by the skipper who delivered a sublime overhead kick into the top corner to send the home fans delirious.

Guthrie was replaced just after the goal by Kinsella after seemingly picking up a knock, but the goal gave Walsall some impetus going forward.

Colclough almost responded quickly for Scunthorpe, however. The winger was given time and space to cut in from the left and rifle his shot into the side netting.

The Iron went close in the closing stages of the game with a couple deep crosses causing problems, but solid Walsall defending avoided an clear-cut chances.

And Darrell Clarke’s men hung on for the victory, giving Walsall six points in the last two games against two struggling sides.

Walsall: Roberts, Clarke, Scarr, Jules, Liddle, Sinclair, Guthrie (Kinsella 66), McDonald (Norman 86), Holden, Gaffney, Lavery (Gordon 23).

Subs not used: Rose, Cockerill-Mollett, Bates, Hardy.

Scunthorpe: Watson, Perch, McGahey, McArdle, Brown (Ntlhe 83), Gilliead, Lund, Songo'o (Slater 75), Colclough, Miller (Eisa 61), van Veen.

Subs not used: Eastwood, Clarke, Hornshaw, McAtee.

Attendance: 4037 (306 away).