The Saddlers got off to a winning start in League Two thanks to a competitive debut goal from captain James Clarke.

Darrell Clarke’s reign as Walsall manager nearly got off to a fantastic start after just five minutes when the ball fell to defender Cameron Norman 25-yards out, but his dipping effort went just over the bar.

Moments later and the home side threatened to open the scoring as Sam Hoskins cut inside Clarke, but his curling effort could only find the stand behind the goal.

With 13 minutes on the clock, the Saddlers opened the scoring through Clarke. A Danny Guthrie corner was swung in and Clarke rose the highest to send a looping header to the back post and the ball bounced off the crossbar and over the line.

As we hit the half-way point in the first half, Liam Roberts was called into action to deny Hoskins. Striker Harry Smith knocked the ball down into the path of the lively Hoskins only for the winger to see his low effort superbly turned up and over by Roberts .

Just before the break and the Saddlers defence were called to stand strong, and they did, as both Mat Sadler and Clarke made crucial blocks and clearances to deny the home side an equaliser.

In the second half and chances were few and far between for either side.

Just before the hour mark and the Saddlers had one of the better opportunities of the second half as the ball rolled into the path of Liam Kinsella just inside the area but his low effort was blocked by his own team-mate, Elijah Adebayo.

With less than 15 minutes to go, the home side came close to an equaliser as Joe Martin curled a free-kick low round the wall, only for it go just wide of the near post.