Analysis: Sadler’s half-time changes turned tide for Walsall at Salford

They were second best in the first half. Salford dominated the ball and took the lead after 15 minutes when Matt Smith turned home Luke Bolton’s curling cross.

Walsall struggled to get on the ball and spent much of the first 45 pinned inside their own half.

Isaac Hutchinson had Walsall’s only shot on goal before the break, while Salford had two chances to extend their lead.

Owen Evans produced the first of four top class saves to tip Stevie Mallan’s powerful long range strike over the bar, before Oisin McEntee cleared Curtis Tilt’s header off the line.

Mallen pulled the strings in the heart of midfield, and Taylor Allen struggled to contain Luke Bolton’s rampaging runs down the right.

Although Walsall struggled to impose themselves on the game, they did keep the score down to one, and Sadler shuffled his pack at the break to turn the tide in his side’s favour.

Ross Tierney came on for David Okagbue, as Walsall switched to a 4-2-3-1, and Aramide Oteh replaced Jamille Matt.

The difference was clear for all to see during the opening exchanges of the second half.

Hutchinson shifted out to the left and Oteh went out to the right. The pair pressed relentlessly, just as Tierney did in the No.10 role.

Tierney was a bundle of energy and his presence between the lines created a platform for Freddie Draper to feed off.

The extra bodies in midfield helped stifle the threat of Mallen, and the runs of Bolton became less frequent, as Walsall took the game to Salford.

Draper came to life after the restart. Just before the hour mark, Ryan Stirk scooped a smartly taken free-kick down the right for McEntee to chase.

The Irishman hung a delicious delivery into the centre of the box and Draper rose to power a bullet header beyond the reach of Salford goalkeeper Alex Cairns.

Salford struggled to contain the dangerous Draper, who went down in the box claiming to have been manhandled by Theo Vassell.

Referee Paul Howard refused to point to the spot. Nonetheless, the impetus was very much with the Saddlers.

Tierney was caught by a late challenge from Ossama Ashley, although he was able to release Hutchinson before being hauled down.

Hutchinson cushioned the ball down on his chest, surged inside with an ambitious run, and sent a rising effort just over the bar.

It was another warning sign for Salford, who were on the ropes at this point.

Then the moment came for midfielder McEntee to steal the headlines 13 minutes from time.

McEntee started the move by collecting the ball in space and rolling the ball out to Hutchinson.

Walsall then switched the ball from left to right with a quick exchange of neat passes.

Draper received the ball from Oteh on the edge of the box and saw his initial effort blocked by Ashley.

Joe Foulkes returned it to the Walsall loanee, who embarked on a mesmerising run into the box.

After nutmegging Ashley, Draper weaved his way past Tilt, and was only denied by the trailing leg of Cairns.

Alert to the rebound, McEntee stormed in at the back post to convert from point blank range, and send the away supporters behind the goal into raptures.

Draper had a low shot saved by Cairns shortly after, but Walsall did need to weather a late storm from the hosts.

Fortunately, Evans, just as he did in the victory against Colchester, delivered the goods for Walsall.

Substitute Marcus Dackers hooked his volley towards the near post, and Evans got down low to produce a superb stop with a strong left hand.

Dackers again came close with a low volley into the side netting, before the board was raised for nine minutes of stoppage time.

Salford rallied but Evans was inpenetrable between the sticks.

Smith cushioned his header down for Bolton to break into the box, and Evans stuck out a crucial leg to thwart him.

Ethan Ingram then dragged one wide, and Walsall almost added a third when Ross Tierney’s audacious chip landed on the roof of the net.

Evans’ afternoon was not over just yet. Mallen struck low, and through bodies. Despite seeing it late, Evans made an incredible stop at the death.

The picture looked very different at full-time. A first away win of 2023, back-to-back wins for the first time since December, and four league matches unbeaten.