Report and pics of Scunthorpe 2 Walsall 1

Hakeeb Adelakun put the hosts ahead seven minutes into the second period with a powerful run and shot which beat visiting keeper Richard O'Donnell.

And former Birmingham City star McSheffrey doubled the home side's advantage soon after with a superb 30-yard free-kick which flew into the top corner.

Tom Bradshaw pulled one back for the Saddlers but they could not find a leveller as the hosts claimed their first league win of the season.

That is something which still eludes the visitors after what was a thoroughly miserable day for manager Dean Smith, who also lost James Chambers and Ashley Grimes to injury during the first-half.

Chambers had only just come back into the team following a hamstring injury but lasted just eight minutes before having to be replaced by Dean Holden.

Three changes to the starting line-up saw Mathieu Manset handed an immediate debut in place of Romaine Sawyers, who is on international duty with St Kitts and Nevis.

There were two changes in defence. James O'Connor returned in place of Liam Kinsella with a fit-again Chambers starting in place of Holden.

But somewhat disastrously for the Saddlers, Chambers had to be replaced by Holden within eight minutes of the start.

The Saddlers first chance arrived on the quarter hour mark, when home goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik did well to keep out Bradshaw's header from an Anthony Forde free-kick.

Home striker Paddy Madden managed to get the better of Holden soon after at the other end but his shot was weak and straight at O'Donnell.

Neal Bishop also curled an effort from distance wide for the hosts and McSheffrey struck a shot straight at O'Donnell from outside the box.

But the best chances were falling to the visitors and Bradshaw again went close when he hooked over after a neat run and cross by Forde.

The latter was impressing out on the left and went close again when he shot wide after a fine run.

Five minutes before the break, Smith was forced into yet another change, this time with Grimes leaving the field to be replaced by James Baxendale.

And the Saddlers were then indebted to O'Donnell for keeping the game goal-less at the break, as his brilliant one-handed save denied Adelakun after the wideman had blasted his way past Andy Taylor and into the box.

But the same player did break the deadlock six minutes into the second half. After another bustling run which went largely unchallenged by the visiting defence, this time the shot squirmed under the keeper and in via the post.

The Saddlers barely had time to recover from that blow before McSheffrey doubled the lead, firing his free-kick past O'Donnell and into the top corner from 30 yards.

Billy Clifford fired over as the stunned Saddlers looked for a way back and McSheffrey then tested O'Donnell with another stinging shot.

With 20 minutes to go Bradshaw pulled the visitors back into it with his third goal of the campaign.

Iron shot-stopper Bobby Olejnik seemed to think his defenders would deal with an O'Donnell clearance and when he hesitated, Bradshaw nipped in to head the ball over him and into the net.

Taylor drove wide from the corner of the box and Manset saw an effort deflected over the bar as the visitors looked for the equaliser which never came.