Analysis: James Clarke’s stunner wraps up a good week for Walsall

Those match-winning moments, the elation in the crowd – and it’s even better when it comes from an unlikely source.

Outrageous, ridiculous, spectacular – it was all of those and more but the importance of James Clarke’s goal, rather than the way it was scored, is what fans should remember.

When Danny Guthrie lifted that cross in from the right, it looked easier to head the ball, rather than the acrobatics that Clarke performed.

The towering centre-back rose the highest and struck an overhead kick that bounced off the turf and into the top corner.

It was sheer brilliance, but the meaning and importance of the goal far outweighs how it was scored.

It gives the Saddlers six points in two games against two teams who have started the season poorly and puts some daylight between them and the bottom clubs.

Without that goal it would have been a drab 0-0 draw, giving Walsall four points from two games, which still would have been a decent return.

The Saddlers have a poor record at home against Scunthorpe in recent years and the writing was on the wall for a goalless draw.

This goal doesn’t just give Walsall an extra two points, it sets them up to continue a winning streak, keep this momentum and rise up League Two.

The most disappointing part of the performance would be that no attacking players got on the scoresheet.

It’s not through a lack of effort. Rory Gaffney and Caolan Lavery work hard for the team and try to create their own chances.

When Josh Gordon replaced Lavery early on due to injury, he too was tenacious in his play and was trying to force a moment and a glimpse on goal.

At the moment the final piece isn’t clicking. Darrell Clarke knows the issue his side faces on that front, but when goals come from elsewhere and the results keep on coming, it eases the pressure and one day soon it will click into place. The forwards deserve it.

With Elijah Adebayo already out injured, and now Lavery facing time on the treatment table, Walsall have been particularly unlucky and they’re now relying on their remaining forward men to step up and take responsibility.

A shining light in the attack would be the performance of Wes McDonald.

The 22-year-old winger was making his first start for the club after a handful of substitute appearances and now gives boss Clarke something to think about.

He’s fast, tricky on the ball and has the ability to create something from nothing.

His link-up with the strikers and eagerness to get forward gave the Scunthorpe defenders something to worry about, leading to them doubling-up on him at times in the first half.

That kind of player can often be hard to come across in League Two, and Walsall could certainly benefit from his direct style of play.

It did, of course, mean that fan favourite Liam Kinsella was dropped from the starting XI – for the good of the team.

Kinsella is the kind of player that every team needs. He’ll die for the shirt and will leave everything on the pitch for the fans and club.

He works hard, battles for the ball, and is clearly best used in the centre of midfield.

Against Bradford and Morecambe, he did a job out on the left of midfield. Despite playing out of position, he played his usual workhorse-style game.

But McDonald offers the attacking intent on the wing that Kinsella doesn’t have.

Kinsella is still an integral part of the team but this game needed McDonald’s swift attacking play and in a 4-4-2 formation Walsall looked better for it.

When it comes to the formation, it may have come as a surprise to some how effective its been in these back-to-back wins.

Injuries to key players, including wing-back Cameron Pring, have seen the 3-5-2 abandoned for now, but it’s credit to the players for how they have adapted.

Zak Jules and Gary Liddle have been solid playing out of position, while Dan Scarr and James Clarke have formed an impenetrable partnership at centre-back.

Players like Cameron Norman and Callum Cockerill-Mollett have struggled to dislodge any of the back four, who have been instrumental in the two wins.

It’s no secret that Walsall have been consistently solid in defence this season, but because of the circumstances with personnel the latest two clean sheets have been more impressive than most.

The mixture of youth and experience, athleticism and brute strength make the Saddlers defence a force, and with five clean sheets in 10 league games, the proof is in the pudding.

Making sure that Liam Roberts in goal is kept as quiet as possible is also ideal, but when he is called into action he’s composed, vocal and has excellent positional awareness.

Overall, it’s been a good week.

Picking up six points has revitalised the feel-good factor around the club.

There’s potential there and once it all clicks into place it could prove to be a successful season.

The fans were chanting Darrell Clarke’s name throughout the game and the atmosphere once the goal went in was electric.