Report: Iron 0-2 Walsall

United were beaten 2-0 at home by Walsall on Saturday afternoon.

The Iron entered the match making three changes, as Mark Howard, Kevin van Veen and Lewis Spence came in for Rory Watson, Abo Eisa and Jem Karacan.

There was a positiver start from the Iron, who pressed around the Saddlers area, with Jai Rowe then winning a couple of attacking free-kicks before the Iron won their first corner.

George Taft and Ryan Loft both won the headers from the resultant corner before Beestin looked to chest the ball down. He ended up on the deck before the ball went to Taft with his goal bound shot blocked.

Soon after, the visitors broke and Emmanuel Osadebe flashed a low effort wide of goal from outside the area.

The Saddlers took the lead five minutes later though as Osadebe converted a right-wing cross by Hayden White at the back post.

Not long after, match referee James Adcock was replaced by fourth official Ben Toner through injury.

The away side then doubled their advantage through Josh Gordon, who stabbed in a second from close range.

With 25 minutes gone, Loft sent an effort over the bar after chesting the ball onto his left foot from the edge of the area.

Soon after, van Veen floated in a free-kick to Loft, who peeled away and drew Jack Rose into a fine one-handed stop to push the ball over the bar. The flag was also up for offside, however.

On 39 minutes, Loft slotted van Veen in on goal, with the Dutchman drawing Rose into a good stop, before the offside flag was again belatedly raised.

Howard found Mason O’Malley on the left in the 44th minute, who then fed forward for Alex Gilliead. Van Veen’s delivery saw Beestin and Loft coming in at the back post but the offside flag went up.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Jai Rowe floated in a free-kick from half-way, Onariase broke the offside trap and challenged with Rose for the ball. The goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt though.

At the start of the second period, Howard got his fingertips onto a low long range effort to push the ball around the post for a corner to the Saddlers. The resultant kick was overhit and out for a goal kick.

In the 52nd minute, Taft diverted Tyriek Wright’s goal bound effort around the post after he struck from the edge of the area with his left foot.

Scunthorpe made their first change in the 56th minute when Gilliead was replaced by John McAtee.

It was a second half of few opportunities and, in the 74th minute, Green got in behind on the right side to put in a low cross, which was turned behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece by O'Malley, Rowe battled to head the ball but sent it over the crossbar.

Afterwards, Karacan came on for Alfie Beestin, while Teddy Howe replaced Rowe, who had received treatment after a clash of heads from that chance.

Walsall's Wright then latched onto a square ball into the area and drew Howard into a save.

With 83 minutes gone, substitute Howe got to the ball inside the box but could only roll his left-footed effort wide of the post.

Towards the end, Howard saved well as Walsall's Scarr looked to power in from close range after a right-wing corner.

United return to action on Tuesday night when they visit Newport County (6.30pm kick-off).

IRON: Howard, Taft, Onariase, Gilliead (McAtee, 56), Loft, van Veen, Green, Spence, Beestin (Karacan, 77), Rowe (Howe, 77), O'Malley.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Watson, Bedeau, Eisa, Jessop.

WALSALL: Rose, White, Scarr (Leak, 90), Melbourne, Clarke, McDonald, Kinsella (Bates, 90), Osadebe (Willis, 90), Wright, Gordon (Lavery, 68), Perry.

WALSALL SUBS NOT USED: Roberts, Norman, Nolan.