Salford boss Karl Robinson says he has been promised money for new striker

Salford boss Karl Robinson says the club’s “Class of ‘92” led board has promised him the funds to sign a much-needed new striker after the Ammies fired blanks in losing 1-0 at Walsall.

Saddlers defender Harrison Burke’s first Football League goal, a bullet 32nd-minute header, ended Salford’s three-game winning streak in League Two.

Walsall wasted a plethora of chances to win by more while Salford barely threatened, apart from Cole Stockton forcing a decent save from Myles Roberts in a brief first-half spell on top.

“I don’t get wrapped up in the fact that we dominated territorially and possession of the football – we had one shot on target,” Robinson said.

“We need forwards, I think it’s clearly obvious. Walsall today had five forwards in their squad and that allowed them to keep their energy levels above ours.

“We are playing midfield players up there. We’re working around the clock to bring in the right type of striker but they just don’t grow on trees.

“We certainly have the funds – the members have given us a healthy opportunity to bring in players to hopefully get us out of this league. We’re scouring all over Europe.”

Robinson was, however, unhappy with the nature of Walsall’s winner.

“Their goal was a clear block – when you watch it back, he turns and runs into one of our players which opens up the free header,” he added.

“But the referee’s performance just mirrored some of ours – not good enough.”

Walsall, meanwhile, did not lack for creativity – only finishing, as Aaron Pressley, Daniel Kanu, Albert Adomah, Aden Flint and match-winner Burke all spurned chances to seal victory earlier.

But boss Mat Sadler was a happy man – and in Kanu, a Friday loan signing from Charlton who impressed off the bench, he hopes he has found the kind of striker Robinson is seeking.

“I thought it was a brilliant performance, outstanding,” he said. “We were front foot and really took the game to them.

“The only disappointment in the second half was that it wasn’t more on the scoreline. But it was really pleasing, positive signs especially off the back of three really tough games.

“There was a spell of 10 minutes after we scored where there were a couple of hairy moments but we threw bodies on the line during that period and blocked holes and defended well.

“Daniel works his socks off out of possession but his first thought is to run in behind which is a real key thing for us in terms of stretching defences. It’s a dimension we wanted to bring in.

“He was really impressive and the only disappointment is he doesn’t score. He has been one I’ve tried to sign umpteen times – last summer, January, all this summer.”