Bury 1 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

Jermaine’s Beckford’s goal on the stroke of half-time ensured it was the Shakers who began the 2017/18 campaign with a win at Gigg Lane.

But victory for Lee Clark’s side would have been much easier was it not for Gillespie who spectacularly saved a penalty in each half.

First the former Carlisle man denied Beckford after Stephen Dawson had been tripped by Florent Cuvelier in the box.

Then after the interval, the keeper produced an even better save to push a Chris Maguire spot-kick onto the post.

Overall the game proved an even fair, but the Saddlers lack of cutting edge was clear to see with a first time strike from Maz Kouyhar - that was saved by Joe Murphy – their only real chance of the second half.

In naming his starting XI, boss Whitney stuck with the same 4-4-1-1 formation that was often used in pre-season.

It meant Mark Gillespie, Luke Leahy, James Wilson and Jon Guthrie were handed their full debuts in a system that saw Erhun Oztumer operate behind Simeon Jackson up front.

With Nicky Devlin suspended, Liam Kinsella came in for his first league start since October at right-back.

Bury, under the guidance of boss Lee Clark, lined up in an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation with new recruits Chris Maguire, Nicky Ajose, Jay O’Shea and Jermaine Beckford rotating in a front four.

Following what had been a frantic summer, the Shakers entered the clash having seen a staggering 18 players arrive and 27 depart since the end of last season.

But any doubts over whether Clark’s side still needed time to gel were swept away inside the opening two minutes when Florent Cuvelier dived in and tripped Stephen Dawson in the box.

Beckford stepped up to take what looked a clear penalty but the former Preston man saw his effort saved with Gillespie brilliantly getting down to his left to push the ball away.

Having survived a huge scare, Walsall gradually grew into the game and a fine passing move involving Adam Chambers and Kieron Morris saw them come a whisker away from taking the lead.

The duo combined to find Jackson in the box with the striker hitting an arrowed drive across goal which took a deflection off Dawson before hitting the base of the post.

After the lively opening, the game was proving more cagey as the clock ticked past the half hour with clear goal scoring opportunities proving few and far between.

It was Walsall, who were pressing high, that looked the more organised of the two teams though.

And they again came close to taking the lead when Oztumer hit the byline before dinking up a cross that was just too strong for the onrushing Jackson.

But for all the Saddlers good work in the opening 45 minutes, it was Bury who went in at the break ahead after nicking a goal right on the stroke of half-time.

After Leahy had tripped Dawson, Maguire sent in a free-kick from wide on the right which Beckford headed home from close range.

It was the home side who threatened first at the start of the second half with Maguire trying to catch out Gillespie with a cheeky free-kick only for the keeper to prove equal to the effort.

Maguire was proving a real thorn in the Saddlers side with the former Oxford man seeing a fierce strike beaten away by Gillespie before again going close with another free-kick.

Whitney made a double change in the 72nd minute with Amadou Bakayoko and Maz Kouyhar replacing Cuvelier and Jackson.

Incredibly, Bury were then given a second a penalty to wrap up the points when sub Zeli Ismail was tripped in the box by Guthrie.

After missing the first spot-kick, Beckford handed responsibility to Maguire. But Gillespie produced even more heroics to spectacularly push his effort onto the post before Walsall cleared.

Having survived yet again, the Saddlers pressed for an equaliser with Kouyhar seeing a first-time strike saved by Murphy after he was found in the box by Oztumer.

And while they sent lots of hopeful long balls into the box in the closing stages, Bury defended well to hold on for the win.

Teams:

Walsall: Gillespie, Kinsella, Wilson, Guthrie, Leahy, Morris (Candlin 84), Chambers, Cuvelier (Kouyhar 72), Edwards, Oztumer, Jackson (Bakayoko 72).

Subs not used: L Roberts, K Roberts, Cockerill-Mollett, Flanagan.

Bury: Bury: Murphy, Jones, Leigh, Thompson, Maguire (Lowe 88), Dawson, Beckford, Ajose (Dai 60), Reilly, Aldred, O'Shea (Ismail 54).

Subs not used: Tutte, Humphrey, Whitmore, Williams.