A controversial penalty from Billy Kee early in the first half saw the Lancashire side grab all three points at the Banks’s Stadium.

On what was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Dean Keates’ side, the Saddlers were on top for long spells.

But they lacked a touch of quality if the final third with goalkeeper Connor Ripley making a number of good saves while other chances were squandered.

Walsall will feel they should have had a penalty of their own after Zeli Ismail was brought down in the box just before the break.

Stanley though showed enough nous in the second half to slow the game down - with the visitors defending in numbers and doing just enough to cling on for the points.

ANALYSIS

Boss Keates opted to keep faith with the team that secured victory at Oxford when naming his starting line-up.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 4-4-2 formation with Josh Gordon getting the nod to partner Morgan Ferrier in attack.

Accrington lined up in a 4-4-1-1 system with Kee - who was named League Two Player of the Year last season - the lone front man and Sam Finley in the number 10 role.

It was Stanely who started the brighter of the two teams and they took the lead in the seventh minute after being awarded a controversial spot-kick.

After Walsall half-cleared a long throw, the ball was seemingly set for Isaiah Osbourne to hack clear.

But Seamus Conneely charged past the midfielder - with Osbourne then seemingly kicking the man instead of the ball.

There were few protests from the Stanley players, but referee Charles Breakspear still opted to point to the spot - with Kee then converting from 12-yards.

The goal sparked the Saddlers into the life with Keates’ men creating a number of half chances to pul level.

Gordon saw a strike from 18-yards claimed by the keeper. Zeli Ismail then danced into the box before seeing a strike well blocked by a defender.

Walsall though were growing in stature as the half progressed.

And they created two glorious chances to pull level as the clock ticked towards the half hour mark.

First, a throw was half-cleared to Josh Ginnelly who, from eight-yards, saw a fierce volley brilliantly tipped away by Connor Ripley.

Then from the resultant corner, Guthrie looked destined to head the ball in at the back post. But a diving Ripley produced a fantastic save to palm the ball away.

The Saddlers were now well on top and they should have had a penalty of their own just before half-time.

Gordon’s intelligent ball sent Ismail through on goal with the winger lifting the ball over Ripley who then caught him.

But referee Breakspear only awarded a corner despite the crowd and the Saddlers bench being adamant it should have been a spot-kick.

It was the visitors who created the first chance of the second half with Jordan Clark doing well to find Sean McConville on the edge of the box.

The liverpudlian then hit a rasping drive from 20-yards which whistled narrowly past the post.

Walsall then had Liam Roberts to thank for keeping them in the game when Clark when on a brilliant run that saw him dance past both Luke Leahy and Jon Guthrie.

The former Shrewsbury man then entered the box before seeing an arrowed low drive kept out by a smart one-handed stop from the keeper.

Moments later Roberts was called into action again when he had to keep out a fierce McConville strike from distance.

With his side having not got going following the re-start, Keates opted to switch Andy Cook for Gordon shortly before the hour mark.

From that point, Walsall began hammering on the door as they went in search of an equaliser - with Ginnelly in particular sending in a number of dangerous balls.

But Walsall were struggling to find that touch of quality in the final third with Stanley increasing their frustrations further by slowing the game down at every opportunity.

The Saddlers were huffing and puffing but it wasn’t until stoppage time they truly threatened the Stanley goal.

Ferrier saw a low strike blocked after Ripley failed to claim a cross. Ismail then saw a fierce strike from 10-yards parried away by the keeper.

Then from the resultant corner, Cook headed wide when well placed.

And that miss summed up Walsall’s afternoon with Keates side unable to find that crucial bit of quality when it mattered.

TEAMS

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Ismail, Dobson, Osbourne (Ronan 72), Ginnelly (Kinsella 86), Ferrier, Gordon (Cook 55).

Subs not used: Dunn, Johnson, Wilson, Morris.

Accrington: Ripley, Johnson, Ihiekwe, Hughes, Anderton, Clark, Brown, Conneely (Barlaser 46), McConville, Finley (Zanzala 71), Kee.

Subs not used: Maxted, Richards-Everton, Hall, Sykes, Mingoia.