Harrison Burke’s first Football League goal ended Salford’s three-game League Two winning run as Walsall deservedly beat the Ammies 1-0.
Centre-back Burke, a summer signing from Chester, met Jamie Jellis’ 32nd-minute corner with an unstoppable bullet header from 10 yards as Walsall wasted a hatful of chances to win by more.
Early on, Burke was denied from close range by Salford keeper Matthew Young, while Albert Adomah and Aaron Pressley missed presentable openings.
Salford’s best moments came either side of the goal as Saddlers stopper Myles Roberts did well to save low from Cole Stockton and Josh Austerfield.
Walsall had multiple chances to seal victory after the break as Saddlers substitute Daniel Kanu was denied by a fabulous fingertip close-range Young save and saw a looping header foiled too.
Pressley wasted a five-on-three break by firing tamely at Young and Aden Flint headed inches wide from a corner.
A Burke header clipped the bar after Young thwarted Flint, while Courtney Clarke also fired a decent chance over but Salford never threatened to make Walsall’s wastefulness pay.
