Walsall boss Mat Sadler hailed veteran striker Jamille Matt’s impact off the bench after he became the Saddlers’ match-winner for the second time this week in a 1-0 victory over Tranmere.
Matt, mostly used as a substitute, had not scored all season until midweek in the FA Cup but coolly beat Rovers keeper Luke McGee to earn Walsall a third straight win in all competitions.
The 34-year-old has endured an injury-plagued time at Walsall since joining in January but Sadler believes Saddlers fans are beginning to see the best of him.
“I tell you, people hate playing against him,” said Sadler. “Their centre-halves had had enough by the end.
“He is horrible to play against. I’m just glad he’s getting the rewards now. He’s been hindered by a few bits and pieces, it’s been a bit stop-start.
“He’s had loads of little things which have curtailed his momentum, he has had to battle through that and he has done it.
“I always knew – and will maintain – what a guy he is at this level and I won’t be persuaded otherwise because I know what he can do.
“He gives us a platform and when he is on it like that, he is a handful. He was brilliant.”
A second successive league win moved Walsall 12 points clear of the bottom two and just five points off the play-offs.
“It’s been a good week, we know that, it was a week we had to fight, scrap, give everything – we had to show a hell of lot of different sides to us,” Sadler added.
Rovers, meanwhile, stay 21st, six points above danger after their winless away run was stretched to 17 games.
They suffered a first defeat since Nigel Adkins was made permanent boss as Walsall keeper Jackson Smith foiled Kristian Dennis and Kieron Morris, who also missed two other big chances.
“The shape and gameplan was working great first half – we had four or five really good chances,” said Adkins.
“At half-time we could have been 4-0 up – you’ve got to take your chances.
“That was the first time for a long time that we’ve not scored but we’ve created again.
“We kept going and could have got something at the end – it’s disappointing we haven’t got at least a clean sheet, disappointing we haven’t got the three points.
“We are up against it but we are having a go – and I think that’s an important thing. Slowly but surely there is a consistency about ourselves and on another day we could have scored four or five goals today.
“There were a few oohs and ahhs today – ultimately we didn’t get the result but I’m certainly seeing a performance from players who are grafting, working hard.”
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