Scunthorpe United 0-2 Walsall

Goals from Wes McDonald and Alfie Bates at the end of each half helped Walsall keep up their run of good form with a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe.

After McDonald's 43rd minute opener, the Saddlers survived a second-half onslaught before Bates wrapped things up on the break to make it six league games unbeaten and inflict a first home defeat since August on the Iron.

Scunthorpe had looked the most likely scorers before McDonald struck, with Lee Novak blazing over and Kevin Van Veen and Abo Eisa both forcing good saves out of visiting goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

Caolan Lavery had earlier squandered a good chance when denied by the legs of Rory Watson, but McDonald's well-worked opening, which saw his shot across goal deflect into the top corner, was against the run of play.

In the second half, Scunthorpe again piled on the pressure, but the Saddlers' defence held firm.

Novak again went close, as did Levi Sutton, who saw one strike from range tipped onto the bar and another bounce inches wide after taking a deflection.

But any hopes they had of an equaliser disappeared when Walsall broke quickly six minutes from time for Bates to fire in his first league goal from inside the penalty area.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Scunthorpe

• 1Watson
• 26McGahey
• 23McArdle
• 32Bedeau
• 20Gilliead
• 14Perch
• 22SuttonSubstituted forWardat 83'minutes
• 28BrownSubstituted forProctorat 77'minutes
• 17Novak
• 10van Veen
• 30Eisa

Substitutes

• 6Butler
• 12Dales
• 13Ward
• 16Butroid
• 33Proctor
• 41Collins
• 45McAtee

Walsall

• 1Roberts
• 5J Clarke
• 6Scarr
• 4Sadler
• 3Pring
• 8KinsellaBooked at 78mins
• 20Bates
• 7Sinclair
• 25McDonaldSubstituted forGuthrieat 72'minutes
• 30GaffneySubstituted forGordonat 80'minutes
• 9LaverySubstituted forAdebayoat 87'minutes

Substitutes

• 10Gordon
• 11Adebayo
• 13Rose
• 14Roberts
• 15Holden
• 16Guthrie
• 33Jules

Referee:

Carl Boyeson

Attendance:

3,842

Match Stats

Home TeamScunthorpeAway TeamWalsall

Possession

Home63%

Away37%

Shots

Home16

Away8

Shots on Target

Home5

Away5

Corners

Home12

Away2

Fouls

Home12

Away14

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Scunthorpe United 0, Walsall 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Scunthorpe United 0, Walsall 2.

Posted at 90'+2'

Abobaker Eisa (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Elijah Adebayo (Walsall).

Posted at 90'

Foul by Jamie Proctor (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 90'

James Clarke (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Attempt blocked. Josh Gordon (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Liam Kinsella.

Substitution

Posted at 87'

Substitution, Walsall. Elijah Adebayo replaces Caolan Lavery.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Jamie Proctor (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 85'

Alfie Bates (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 84'

Goal! Scunthorpe United 0, Walsall 2. Alfie Bates (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Jamie Ward replaces Levi Sutton.

Posted at 82'

Attempt blocked. Levi Sutton (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 81'

Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Josh Gordon.

Posted at 81'

Harrison McGahey (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Caolan Lavery (Walsall).

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Walsall. Josh Gordon replaces Rory Gaffney.

Booking

Posted at 78'

Liam Kinsella (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Jamie Proctor replaces Junior Brown.

Posted at 76'

James Perch (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Danny Guthrie (Walsall).

Posted at 76'

Attempt blocked. James Perch (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Harrison McGahey.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 75'

Stuart Sinclair (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Walsall. Danny Guthrie replaces Wesley McDonald.

Posted at 65'

Attempt missed. Junior Brown (Scunthorpe United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is too high following a corner.

Posted at 64'

Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Cameron Pring.

Posted at 64'

Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Stuart Sinclair.

Posted at 63'

Attempt blocked. Levi Sutton (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lee Novak.

Posted at 58'

Rory McArdle (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 58'

Foul by Rory Gaffney (Walsall).

Posted at 57'

Offside, Walsall. Dan Scarr tries a through ball, but Caolan Lavery is caught offside.

Posted at 57'

Rory McArdle (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 57'

Foul by Rory Gaffney (Walsall).

Posted at 56'

Offside, Scunthorpe United. Alex Gilliead tries a through ball, but Lee Novak is caught offside.

Posted at 56'

Attempt saved. Levi Sutton (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Abobaker Eisa.

Posted at 55'

Foul by Junior Brown (Scunthorpe United).

Posted at 55'

Liam Roberts (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 55'

Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Mat Sadler.

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