Scunthorpe 0 Walsall 2 - Report

The Saddlers were a cut above their opposition from the off and scored twice within 10 first half half minutes. First, Emmanuel Osadebe headed home a move he started before Josh Gordon notched his first goal in 20 games.

Scunthorpe offered very little resistance in the second half as Walsall comfortably kept a clean sheet and took home the three points - having been unfortunate not to add more goals.

Brian Dutton made three changes, starting in a 4-3-3 formation.

Dan Scarr, Tyreik Wright and Wes McDonald all came into the starting XI - the latter making his first start in two months - as Mat Sadler, Cameron Norman and Caolan Lavery dropped out.

Sadler, who is assistant manager to Dutton, was left out of the squad altogether to instead focus on his coaching role.

Jack Nolan made the bench, coming into the squad for the first time since February 27.

Academy midfielder Joe Willis also made the bench as striker Derick Osei Yaw was left out.

Rory Holden, Stuart Sinclair and Callum Cockerill-Mollett were all not involved.

Neil Cox also made three changes to his Scunthorpe side as goalkeeper Mark Howard came in, alongside Kevin van Veen and Lewis Spence.

They started in a 4-4-2 formation.

Within the opening five minutes the hosts almost found a breakthrough when a corner caused all sorts of problems. George Taft almost headed home at the far post before, after a scramble, the ball fell to him again and his close range shot was blocked and eventually cleared.

Walsall, however, bit back quickly when Gordon flicked the ball neatly into the path of Wright. The winger ran at the defence and was fouled on the edge of the box but advantage was played as Osadebe picked the ball up and fired wide.

After surviving the early scare Walsall started the game well and took the lead after 13 minutes in a brilliant move orchestrated and finished by Osadebe. The midfielder pinged a lovely cross-field ball to Hayden White who took a touch and delivered a superb cross to the far post where Osadebe came in to head home.

A bizarre substitution was made after 17 minutes when referee James Adcock was unable to continue and swapped with fourth official Ben Toner. Adock was seen with ice strapped to his calf on the sidelines.

Since opening the scoring the Saddlers dominated the game and were enjoying themselves going forward. Then, after 23 minutes, they doubled their lead. A low Osadebe free-kick was scuffed by a Scunthorpe defender and Gordon stepped up from five yards to tap home his first goal in 20 matches.

Jack Rose then pulled off a wonderful save to deny Ryan Loft’s headed effort, before the striker was adjudged to be offside.

Walsall continued to push for further goals and almost found it when Wright was inches away from being played through on goal. McDonald then had a shot blocked.

Despite being fairly quiet, Rose stayed on his toes when he pulled off another great save to deny van Veen, who again was adjudged offside.

Scunthorpe’s best chances came from long balls into the box and another found Emmanuel Onariase but the towering defender could not find the desired touch to take aim at goal.

The Saddlers entered the break with a deserved 2-0 lead after a much better display. The Iron were struggling defensively and had very little attacking product.

In the early stages of the second half Walsall continued where they left off. A high press was forcing Scunthorpe into mistakes and allowing the Saddlers to quickly win the ball back. Wright was involved heavily with two efforts on goal, one trickled wide and the other was deflected just wide.

The hosts managed to settle more into the half as it progressed and saw more of the ball, but still struggled to create anything meaningful going forward as Walsall kept them at arm's length.

The Saddlers, however, continued to play their game and turned on the style on several occasions with some nice passing play. Sam Perry was at the heart of the play in the middle of the park, winning every loose ball and dictating play alongside Liam Kinsella. It was very comfortable for Walsall.

The visitors should have added a third when an Osadebe corner flashed across the face of goal and took a touch off James Clarke before heading wide of the post.

Osadebe began to turn on the style again as he danced into the box on the right side. He cut back for Wright who, with the goal at his mercy, directed his effort directly at goalkeeper Howard.

As the game entered added time Willis replaced Osadebe for his league debut as Dutton’s commitment to youth continued.

Scarr almost added a late third when his half volley at the back post, following a corner, was saved well.

In the end the Saddlers won comfortably and took three points back to the Black Country.

Teams

Walsall: Rose, White, Clarke, Scarr (Leak, 93), Melbourne, Osadebe (Willis, 90), Kinsella (Bates, 93), Perry, Wright, Gordon (Lavery, 68), McDonald.

Subs not used: Roberts, Norman, Nolan.

Scunthorpe: Howard, Rowe (Howe, 77), Onariase, Taft, O’Malley, Gilliead (McAtee, 57), Beestin (Karacan, 77), Spence, Green, Loft, van Veen.

Subs not used: Watson, Eisa, Jessop, Bedeau.