Match ends, Scunthorpe United 0, Walsall 2.
ScunthorpeScunthorpe United0WalsallWalsall2
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
Scunthorpe
Formation 3-4-3
- 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
Formation 4-4-2
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Scunthorpe United 0, Walsall 2.
Post update
Abobaker Eisa (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Elijah Adebayo (Walsall).
Post update
Foul by Jamie Proctor (Scunthorpe United).
Post update
James Clarke (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Josh Gordon (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Liam Kinsella.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Elijah Adebayo replaces Caolan Lavery.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Proctor (Scunthorpe United).
Post update
Alfie Bates (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Scunthorpe United 0, Walsall 2. Alfie Bates (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Jamie Ward replaces Levi Sutton.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Levi Sutton (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Josh Gordon.
Post update
Harrison McGahey (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Caolan Lavery (Walsall).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Josh Gordon replaces Rory Gaffney.
Booking
Liam Kinsella (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
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
Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Jamie Proctor replaces Junior Brown.
