Walsall produce positive response as Harrogate’s home woes continue

High-flying Walsall returned to winning ways in League Two as goals from Daniel Kanu and Priestley Farquharson secured a routine 2-0 victory at struggling Harrogate.

On-loan Charlton striker Kanu’s seventh goal of the season and Farquharson’s late header helped the Saddlers respond to last week’s loss to Colchester and also meant Harrogate have now suffered four straight home defeats in the league.

During the opening exchanges, Sulphurites goalkeeper James Belshaw made excellent saves to deny Ryan Finnigan and Charlie Lakin.

Centre-back Anthony O’Connor kicked another attempt from the latter off the line before the Saddlers eventually forged ahead in the 43rd minute.

Jamille Matt’s lay-off saw Kanu ride an O’Connor challenge and use trickery to leave Warren Burrell on the ground before calmly rolling the ball into Belshaw’s bottom-right corner from 10 yards.

Early in the second half, Shawn McCoulsky managed the hosts’ only shot on target of the afternoon but keeper Myles Roberts was equal to it.

Farquharson put the outcome beyond doubt in the 87th minute, rising high in the six-yard box to meet Finnigan’s left-wing corner with a powerful header.