Walsall 0 Salford 2 - Report

After a fairly bright start from both teams Ian Henderson put the visitors ahead after 19 minutes and they then dominated the rest of the half.

It was, also, much the same in the second half and shortly after the restart Jordan Turnbull headed home a deserved second goal for The Ammies.

The Saddlers struggled to get going and tactical changes were not enough to force a way back into the game.

With results elsewhere, Walsall can no longer be caught by Southend but Grimsby, with a game in hand, can theoretically equal Walsall’s points - although the Saddlers have a far greater goal difference.

With three games of the season remaining Walsall now need just one point to secure safety.

Brian Dutton made one change to his side and moved back to a 5-2-3 formation.

Cameron Norman made his first start since March 23 and replaced Tyreik Wright, who dropped to the bench.

Dan Scarr returned from his calf injury, which has kept him out since March 12, and replaced academy midfielder Joe Willis among the substitutes.

Rory Holden, who was having his knee looked at on Monday after feeling ‘uncomfortable’ since returning from injury, was still not involved.

Stuart Sinclair was still out with an injury, while Frank Vincent, Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Jack Nolan were not involved.

Gary Bowyer also made one change to his Salford side, and played a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Ash Hunter came in to partner Henderson up front and replaced Brandon Thomas-Asante, who dropped to the bench.

Former Burnley midfielder George Boyd, now aged 35, was among the substitutes for The Ammies.

From the off Walsall employed the long throw-in from Norman. Sam Perry brilliantly flicked it on at the near post and with Josh Gordon lurking, Salford goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was able to collect.

In a lively start at the Banks’s Stadium Robbie Gotts was almost played in on goal, but Mat Sadler was able to shield the ball before clearing it.

In back-and-forth action the Saddlers raced up the other end and almost found a way through. Caolan Lavery did well to hold up the ball from a Norman cross and lay it off for Gordon. The striker took aim from 20 yards and his deflected effort was just saved.

With all these early half chances the first big chance came after 13 minutes. Gotts was played in behind on the right after an intelligent run and a first time cross found Richie Towell but he directed his free header from 10 yards wide of the post.

An Emmanuel Osadebe effort then flew just over the bar from 25 yards. Both sides had started the game well and were finding space, particularly on the flanks. Walsall’s wing-backs were having some joy running into space and passing inside to create runs into the channel.

But after 19 minutes it was the visitors that took the lead, after a comedy of errors from the Saddlers. First, Sadler delayed his back pass thinking no Salford man was near him, before realising he was being closed down. After hurriedly passing back to Jack Rose the goalkeeper took a touch before having his clearance blocked by Henderson who then finished into the empty net.

Despite starting the game relatively well, in the minutes that followed the goal Walsall were completely off the boil. They gave the ball away cheaply and allowed Salford to keep hold of it. They looked shaky in defence and toothless in attack.

A rare foray forward for the Saddlers, however, almost resulted in a goal. Max Melbourne raced forward and the ball eventually fell to Lavery who had his near post shot saved into the side netting. The resulting corner came to nothing.

A Henderson shot from the left of the box was then easily saved by Rose. The chance came after Hayden White missed a free header and allowed Hunter to put Henderson through on goal.

The experienced striker again came close when a Ibou Touray cross found him from 10 yards but his neat flick flew just over the bar.

In the end Walsall limped into half-time with a below-par performance and deservedly losing 1-0.

As the second half started it was largely business as usual. Walsall struggled to get going and Salford had some sights of goal, but were just missing the final pass or touch.

An inswinging Gotts cross almost went straight in but Rose was able to tip it over the bar to save his team.

Just over 10 minutes into the second half Salford got the second goal they were pushing for. A cross came in and defender Turnball got a deft touch on it to head home into the bottom corner.

After 66 minutes Dutton made four changes and moved to a 4-4-2 formation as he tried to get his team back in the game. Scarr, Wright, Alfie Bates and Wes McDonald all came on.

Despite that, the Saddlers still struggled to get a foothold on the game. Some attacks fizzled out as they reached the final third and Salford were comfortably holding on to their lead.

The visitors almost made it three late on but Turnbull’s header was cleared off the line by James Clarke. Boyd later just fired wide of the far post.

In the end the toothless Walsall attack could not make a dent in Salford’s defence and they fell to a 2-0 defeat.

Teams

Walsall: Rose, Norman, White (Wright, 66), Clarke, Sadler (Scarr, 66), Melbourne, Perry (Bates, 66), Kinsella, Osadebe (McDonald, 66), Gordon, Lavery.

Subs not used: Roberts, Leak, Osei Yaw.

Salford: Hladky, Bernard, Eastham, Turnbull, Touray, Towell (Thomas-Asante, 81), Lowe, Threlkeld, Gotts, Hunter (Boyd, 81), Henderson.

Subs not used: Evans, James, Clarke, Burgess, Coutts.

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