Walsall analysis: Saddlers rediscover shooting boots in style at Newport
Walsall rediscovered their shooting boots in style with a 4-2 victory at Newport County, which put paid to a run of back-to-back defeats in League Two.
Creating chances had not been an issue in both setbacks, but a lack of killer instinct in the final third did prove costly.
That was not the case in South Wales, as the Saddlers showed a ruthless touch in front of goal, which had been lacking against Barrow and Cheltenham Town respectively.
Including the Saddlers' 3-0 success at Eastleigh, Mat Sadler's charges have scored seven goals in the last 180 minutes of football - over three times more than they mustered in the five games prior across all competitions (two).
Evan Weir and Daniel Kanu; 'A match made in heaven'
The combination play between Evan Weir and Daniel Kanu appears to a match made in heaven and an effective avenue to goal.
Just as he did against Eastleigh, Kanu made the run in behind and Weir duly spotted it. Although Kanu was denied on this occasion, Ryan Finnigan was on hand to finish the rebound for Walsall's second.
With Weir's ability to create from deep, and the elusive movement of Kanu, Walsall are seriously beginning to reap the reward for a blossoming relationship.
Kanu is in excellent form and took his tally to six goals with his leveller less than a minute after Kai Whitmore had rifled Newport into the lead just past the quarter-hour mark.
The Sierra Leone striker has netted in back-to-back games, and has scored three in his last four outings in total.
As for Weir, he is fast becoming a star in his own right and is beginning to rack up the type of numbers even his predecessor Taylor Allen would be proud of.
The Irishman has hit four goals and two assists so far this term, but those figures only look destined to improve, as he continues to grow in confidence and stature.
In truth, Walsall never deserved to be behind, and could've easily been two or three to the good inside the opening 10 minutes.
Aaron Pressley spurned a presentable chance after just 30 seconds and Courtney Clarke had a volley headed off the line.
Kanu once again burst into the box, but was denied from a tight angle by Newport goalkeeper Jordan Wright at his near post.
Ryan Finnigan at the double
The response was emphatic and Walsall completed a remarkable turnaround just three minutes after conceding.
Finnigan, who was recalled to the team in the absence of Brandon Comley, stole the show, and bagged his brace, only 20 minutes after opening his goal scoring account in the league.
It was a nicely worked set piece: starting from Weir's long throw, which was helped on by Aden Flint, and then by Clarke. Finnigan towered highest at the back post to force Wright into action, and remained alert to bundle the rebound over the line.
His double capped an excellent individual performance. The Blackpool loanee never shirked a challenge and enjoyed some really silky touches on an afternoon to remember.
His performance also speaks volumes of the level of competition in the squad. Rico Browne, who scored the Saddlers' fourth after half-time, has really stepped up in the absence of the injured Harrison Burke in recent weeks.
Clarke is growing in maturity with every performance amid a flurry of successive starts, and even Jid Okeke has had somewhat of a purple patch of late.
The latter only featured in the dying embers, but the substitutions overall helped Walsall close out the win.
Jamille Matt and Albert Adomah picked up the baton to defend from the front, Lewis Warrington built on Charlie Lakin's good work at the base of midfield, and Priestley Farquharson helped defend the box.
Subs key for Walsall
Football is very much a squad game and depth very much came to the fore during the closing stages.
The decision to play Lakin in holding midfield was somewhat forced, with Comley missing due to illness, along with Jamie Jellis, who has been nursing a groin issue.
But the tweak had the desired effect. Lakin put in the groundwork, which then provided Finnigan and Clarke with the license to attack.
Walsall will be disappointed to have conceded twice, especially the second, which saw Gerard Garner afforded too much room inside the box, after they had failed to clear a long throw.
That halved the deficit on the cusp of half-time, but Walsall ensured that it would not prove to be a turning point in the contest.
Whereas the first half was frenetic, albeit thrilling and impressive going forward, Walsall were much more composed as a defensive unit after the break.
Browne's goal relieved the nerves eight minutes after the restart and Walsall reduced the threat from Newport with a disciplined and tireless performance off the ball.
