Walsall 2 Gillingham 1 - Report and pictures

Following impressive performances against Plymouth, Scunthorpe and Tranmere, the Saddlers picked up where they left off to secure another deserved win at the Banks’s Stadium.

Dean Keates’ side led 2-0 at the interval thanks to a stunning Morgan Ferrier strike and a wonderful Isaiah Osbourne finish.

And while Tom Eaves netted in stoppage time for the visitors, Walsall held on for a win that was secured thanks to a fantastic overall team performance.

Analysis

Keates was forced into a surprise change when naming his starting line-up with Zeli Ismail forced to miss out through injury.

It meant Kieron Morris came in for his first start of the season on the right of midfield, with the Saddlers otherwise lining up as expected in their 4-4-2 system.

GIllingham, under the guidance of Steve Lovell, opted for a 4-4-2 diamond formation with dangerman Tom Eaves joined by Brandon Hanlan in attack.

In what was a thoroughly entertaining opening 20 minutes, both teams produced some excellent football as they looked to grab an early advantage.

It was the visitors who threatened first with Eaves heading narrowly wide after the Gills had won a deep free-kick.

Lovell’s men were mixing things up well with the team comfortable passing it short as well as sending in hopeful balls for Eaves.

The Saddlers though looked bright whenever they got on the ball with their pace on the counter looking particularly dangerous.

And it was from a swift break that they took the lead with George Dobson initially doing well to win the ball in the middle of park before finding Ferrier.

From there though, the striker took control with the 23-year-old darting into the box before curling an unstoppable strike past Tomas Holy and into the top corner.

Gillingham responded with Josh Parker smartly dumming away from two men before sending a strike just inches wide from 20-yards.

While the game was proving fairly even, it was Walsall who were asking all the serious questions.

And they created two decent chances to extend their lead.

First, a brilliant long-ball forward from Josh Ginnelly was instantly controlled by Ferrier.

The forward then tried to replicate his goal by cutting into the box from the left side. But this time his effort was beaten away by Holy.

Then just moments later, Nicky Devlin picked out Jack Fitzwater inside the area but his shot on the spin was blocked by a defender.

The Gills showed they still carried an attacking threat when Brendon Hanlan danced into the box before forcing Liam Roberts into a good one-handed stop.

But it was Walsall who continued to look the more dangerous.

They almost doubled their advantage when Andy Cook headed a narrowly wide following a whipped Ginnelly delivery.

But just before the break, Keates men did get a second.

After entering the box, Morris did well to cut the ball back to Osbourne who was centrally placed 20-yards out.

And he then curled a strike that clipped the inside the post before nestling into the back of the net.

Walsall were a whisker away from extending their lead shortly after the break with Ferrier collecting an excellent pass from Ginnelly on the byline.

The striker then picked out Cook in the box who looked to find the bottom corner but his effort was brilliantly kept out with a diving save from Holy.

Undeterred, Walsall continued to press with the ball falling for Morris in the box who flashed a strike wide when he should have done better.

Despite the chances the Saddlers were creating, Gillingham continued to look bright in possession.

And after Devlin and Fitzwater both made some crucial blocks, they come close to scoring in the 70th minute when sub Conor Wilkinson headed a corner straight at Roberts.

It was from corners that GIllingham got all their joy as they pressed in the closing stages.

Wilkinson again went close only to see a header tipped over by Roberts.

Callum Reilly then met another delivery only to see him effort headed off the line by Dobson.

A mixture of organisation together with a willingness to put bodies on the line when needed, seemed to have seen Walsall over the line.

They did concede in three minutes off added time when Eaves headed a deep cross into the back of the net.

And while that ensured a nervy finish, the Saddlers held on for a deserved win.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Morris, Osbourne, Dobson, Ginnelly, Cook, Ferrier (Gordon 90).

Subs not used: Dunn, Wilson, Kinsella, Sangha, Kouhyar, Candlin.

GIllingham: Holy, O’Neill (Fuller 78), Garmston, Zakuani, Ehmer, Bingham (Reilly 67), Byrne, Charles-Cook, Parker, Eaves, Hanlan (Wilkinson 67).

Subs not used: Hadler, Lacey, Nasseri, Stevenson.