George Bennett analysis: Walsall soar to dizzying heights in Colchester rout

Something special appears to be happening at Walsall under Mat Sadler and it feels as if we’re passing the point of simply regarding this as just a rich vein of form.

Indeed, there are still 38 match days left to play and anything can happen across an entire league campaign but there is at least licence for cautious optimism.

Not only have Walsall become a more solid defensive unit this season, but the ruthless nature of this team in front of goal makes them a force to be reckoned with in the division.

It was far from a vintage first-half performance from Sadler’s charges. They seemed to be suffering somewhat of a hangover following their EFL Cup exploits against Leicester City earlier in the week.

They offered a threat on the counter-attack, but failed to deliver the killer pass as frustration threatened to set in. But the leaders of the squad came to the fore with Ryan Stirk offering a calming influence in the centre of the park to underscore his growing importance to the team.

Despite struggling to click into gear in attack, Walsall remained disciplined in their shape and restricted Colchester to very little despite the visitors starting the contest on top.

Colchester, who’d scored six goals in their previous two league games, failed to register a single attempt on target across the 90.

The fact that Simkin has been forced into just eight saves in his seven league outings so far further underlines Walsall’s new found defensive solidity.

Walsall’s defensive record can only be marvelled at in these early stages of the season. They’ve not conceded in 360 minutes (excluding added time) across all competitions, while only league leaders Gillingham (two) have shipped fewer than the Saddlers impressive tally of four.

Another glaring difference between Sadler’s debut campaign and the start of his second has been his side’s clinical edge in front of goal.

Walsall decided to mix it up by going direct for their opener as Taylor Allen picked out Jamie Jellis with a measured long ball from deep inside his own half.

Jellis, who shone throughout, watched it all the way, and as it floated over his shoulder, the midfielder produced an excellent first touch, before picking his head up and lashing past Matt Macey with the aid of deflection.

It was one of the few chances created in the first half, but the most important thing was that Walsall converted it.

Sadler reached for his bench for the first time with 20 minutes left on the clock with the introductions of Albert Adomah and Jack Earing.

Both would go onto play an instrumental role in Walsall’s late second-half blitz. Adomah escaped his marker to apply a deft flick past Macey from Connor Barrett’s low cross to open the floodgates once and for all.

Walsall smelt blood and entered demolition mode in the closing stages to add salt to gaping wounds for their sorry visitors.

When the Saddlers are in this type of mood, very few sides are capable of stopping them of late.

That was the case against Salford, Cheltenham Town, Swindon Town and Huddersfield Town, and it was once again the case on Saturday.

Earing put the seal on a handsome victory with a late brace either side of the 90. Lowe discovered a new burst of energy late on to play a starring role in both.

Three minutes from time, Lowe peeled away from his marker to latch on to Adomah’s through ball and forced Macey into a smart stop.

The rebound found it’s way to Earing on the edge of the box and the midfielder bent a beautiful finish into the corner with Macey simply rooted to the spot.

Lowe broke behind the Colchester defence once again in stoppage-time with a lung-busting run from just inside his own half.

The angle was acute for Lowe, but he had every right to shoot. Instead, the teenager unselfishly squared for Earing to make it four.

With the win, Walsall are the joint-leading scorers in League Two with a formidable tally of 15. They also maintained their 100 per cent record on home soil in the league with a fourth win on the spin on their own patch.

Since the start of December, Walsall have won over 72 per cent of their league games at Bescot (drawing twice, losing three) and they’ll be looking to extend that record when Fleetwood Town pay a visit tomorrow night.