Walsall boss Mat Sadler highlighted the way his side dealt with Carlisle United’s late efforts as key in their 3-1 win.

The high-flying Saddlers cruised clear of the Blues with three goals by the 56-minute mark before Jon Mellish’s goal gave United slim hope.

But the home boss felt his team saw Carlisle off and ensured there were no jitters against Mike Williamson’s second-bottom strugglers.

“It turned into a really good night. There were lots of good performances, and I was pleased with how we managed the last ten minutes – in a scenario that could have been jittery, we took that away,” said Sadler.

“We managed the game really well. I said to the lads, that final ten minutes was one of my most pleasing parts of the game. It was very comfortable in the end.

“There were some very good performances throughout.”

Nathan Lowe shot Walsall ahead in the second minute with Jamie Jellis and Jamille Matt increasing their lead early in the second half, before Mellish’s late Blues consolation.

Walsall moved up to second while United remained second bottomWalsall moved up to second while United remained second bottom (Image: Richard Parkes)

The result saw the home side move up to second in League Two – in stark contrast to United’s woes in the relegation zone.

“I want to be careful with labelling it with anything – I just thought it was a really good performance,” added Sadler in a club interview.

“I thought we started very well – it was a fantastic start to the game.

“We know that with the way Mike [Williamson] wants to play, that they’re going to have possession. We’re well aware of that.

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“I know Mike wants to get the rotations into them, the movement into them, and I think we saw that at times.

“But the way our shape was, we were really organised. If anything in the first half we tried to transition too quickly at times, and tried to score every single time we won it back – and we won it back lots.

“But I thought that they pressed well, so there was that little bit of bite to the game. But the work we put in the first half, and to go again in the second half in the manner we did, was really pleasing.”