Clarke delighted as Walsall take their chances

Walsall manager Darrell Clarke said his side’s 2-0 win at Scunthorpe was a perfect example of “the fine lines of League Two”.

Goals from Wes McDonald and Alfie Bates at the end of each half secured the Saddlers a fifth away victory of the campaign, but they were on the back foot for long spells against an Iron side who went into the game unbeaten in eight.

“Scunthorpe put us under a fair bit of pressure at times, but I thought we defended superbly,” Clarke said

“Liam (Roberts) pulled off a great save at 1-0, but they are the fine lines of League Two.

“Credit to my boys, they put in a good shift and managed to pick up the three points.

“All season the desire and commitment has been there, we’re just trying to get better and better.

“That’s four points from two away games now and everyone would have snapped your hand off for that before the game.

“That’s our fifth away win in the league this season. We’ve got to keep chipping away, while trying to give our home fans a bit more to shout about.

“It was a pleasing performance. The game was pretty even and although they were asking more questions of us than we were of them, we defended resolutely as an 11.

“I don’t think about things like the momentum being with us, because a kick in the nasties is always just around the corner. I just focus on the next game.”

Scunthorpe created a host of chances before McDonald’s deflected shot opened the scoring two minutes before half-time.

Levi Sutton came closest to an equaliser with an effort that was tipped on to the bar, but Bates struck six minutes from time to make the three points safe.

“Naturally we’re disappointed to lose our last home game of the year, especially having been unbeaten for some time,” Scunthorpe  boss Paul Hurst said.

“It’s the sort of game that probably six or seven times out of 10 you win with the chances we created, but credit to Walsall for working extremely hard and getting players back behind the ball.

“They made it difficult for us, but we still managed quite a few efforts at goal, though quite a few were from distance admittedly.

“Hitting the crossbar was probably the nearest we came to a goal, but that’s the first time in a while that we’ve failed to score.

“I’m not going to be too downbeat after the run the players have been on and the points tally we’ve accumulated.

“It’s just a little frustrating we haven’t taken anything from the game.

“I would have liked a bit more quality from us. Some of our passing could have been crisper and we could have been more decisive in the final third.”