Mat Sadler hailed the front-foot style that saw “ruthless” Walsall put struggling Carlisle to the sword during a 3-1 victory in Sky Bet League Two.
Nathan Lowe notched within the opening two minutes and while the Cumbrians made their presence felt more as the first half went on, their work was quickly undone by Jamie Jellis’ fine finish four minutes after half-time.
The game was up in the 56th minute when Jamille Matt, who had a hand in the other two goals, lashed in following penalty area scramble and while Jon Mellish converted from a corner at the far post nine minutes from time for Carlisle, the Saddlers snuffed out any further danger.
“Although we got our noses in front in the first couple of minutes, it was a real battle of a first half,” said Sadler.
“One of the really pleasing things was how we came out for that second half and got the early goal, which was a real knock for Carlisle.
“It was a very good night, really pleasing for many reasons, managing the 10 minutes after they scored really well. We stamped out any hope of a comeback which was that ruthless side that we are seeing.
“I continue to think Jamma (Matt) is an absolute handful, Lowey is a lad with a fantastic future ahead of him but his future being now, he is doing very well and the guys behind them backed it up really well.”
Matt mugged Harrison Neal in front of his own box and rolled to his left for Lowe to fire home low across goal via a kiss off Harry Lewis’ upright.
It set the tone for a brisk first half, albeit without clear chances following, and high-flying Walsall showed the killer instinct that the visitors had lacked straight after the break.
Midfielder Jellis bursting inside and on to Matt’s knock-down to fire home on the run.
Matt then bludgeoned home after Taylor Allen’s free-kick had pinged about and the hosts might have had more.
Allen’s shot from a half-cleared set-piece skipped through the crowd, with David Okabuge failing to get a definitive touch.
Mellish side-footed in after a low corner swirled through the crowd, but Walsall substitute Danny Johnson spurned two great chances to add gloss to the scoreline.
Carlisle boss Mike Williamson was magnanimous in defeat.
“It was evident where both sides are in their journeys and they deserve a lot of credit,” he said.
“The manager has been there for a couple years and what he has built is very difficult to play against.
“It is not about being too defeatist, but they were certainly stronger and we have to look at areas where we use that as a marker for ourselves.
“We let ourselves down a little bit when we lacked quality, giving away simple passes which was disappointing.
“We have to improve on many areas and need to be more threatening. We had willing runners, but we couldn’t affect their backline when we did get through.”
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