Walsall 0 Barrow 1 - Report

In what many supporters dubbed a relegation battle fixture, the football on display showed why both sides are currently at the wrong end of the table.

It was a largely dull affair in the first half with little goalmouth action at either end.

In the second half Liam Roberts made a key save with his feet but the game still suffered with a lack of chances.

All it took was once opportunity, however, as Kay finished neatly into the bottom corner in the 87th minute to snatch all three points.

Dutton made two changes to his side, starting with a 5-3-2 formation.

Tyreik Wright and Alfie Bates came into the team as Cameron Norman and Caolan Lavery dropped to the bench.

Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Frank Vincent dropped out of the squad, as Derick Osei Yaw and Jayden Reid took their places on the bench. Jack Nolan was, again, not involved in the squad.

Rob Kelly made one change to his Barrow side, starting in a 5-3-2 formation.

Striker Luke James came into the team, replacing Kay who dropped to the bench. They only named six substitutes.

The first opening of the game fell to Scott Quigley after five minutes. The striker was fed through in the Walsall box but after delaying his shot he was closed down and his eventual effort was scuffed and easily saved.

In reality, both sides cancelled each other out in the opening 20 minutes, with chances hard to come by. Walsall had one opportunity when Liam Kinsella got to the byline, but his cross was over-hit and the chance fizzled out.

The visitors came close when a Jamie Devitt corner was met by Tom Davies. His looping header from the back post was directed back across goal and needed Roberts to tip it over the bar. The resulting corner found Davies in the exact same spot but this time it was cleared by the Saddlers.

There was a four-minute break in play when Max Melbourne and Brad Barry clashed heads. After both received treatment on the pitch the Walsall man was able to continue but Barry was forced to come off. He was replaced by Neal Eardley.

After five minutes of added time the teams entered the break drawing 0-0. It was an exceptionally dull half of football with neither side creating any clear-cut chances. The Walsall system was failing them in the final third as Josh Gordon was isolated up front, receiving little support from Emmanuel Osadebe who played just behind him.

As the teams emerged for the second half Walsall changed to a 4-3-3 formation. Osadebe moved to the left wing, Wright the right and Gordon was through the middle.

Roberts came to Walsall’s rescue when he stopped a James strike with his legs. The striker found space in the box and got a clean strike away.

The Saddlers were dealt an injury blow when Dan Scarr was forced to withdraw. Norman came on for him and slotted into right-back with Hayden White moving to centre-back.

Minutes later Dutton made two attacking changes as Osei Yaw and Wes McDonald came off the bench, replacing Gordon and Osadebe.

As the game passed the hour mark it was still scrappy and lacking in quality. Neither side was able to get a foothold on the ball and create a meaningful opportunity.

Substitute Norman came closest for Walsall after 68 minutes when his low effort took a heavy deflection and whistled just wide of the post. The resulting corner came to nothing.

Wright then shot straight at the goalkeeper from 25 yards as Walsall looked slightly brighter in their attacking play.

But in the 87th minute it was Barrow that took the lead. A flick from Quigley allowed Kay to race onto it and he finished neatly into the bottom corner to Roberts’ right.

Walsall battled for a way back into the game in the closing minutes but failed to equalise in the five minutes of added time and were condemned to defeat.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, White, Scarr (Norman, 56), Sadler, Wright, Bates, Perry, Kinsella, Melbourne, Osadebe (McDonald, 59), Gordon (Osei Yaw, 59).

Subs not used: Rose, Sinclair, Reid, Lavery.

Barrow: Dixon, Jones (Thomas, 68), Davies, Ntlhe, Barry (Eardley), Devitt (Banks, 82), Taylor, Taylor, Brough, Quigley, James (Kay, 82).

Subs not used: Lillis, Sea.