Mat Sadler hits out at officials after Walsall suffer third straight home loss against Fleetwood

Walsall created a clutch of chances, especially in the first half, but were unable to find an equaliser, as they suffered a third successive home defeat for the first time since February 2022.

However, Sadler felt Charlie Lakin was denied a "clear penalty" in the first half, and that Ched Evans was fortunate to escape punishment for an elbow on Evan Weir. 

Finley Potter also handled Jid Okeke's cross inside the box, although Sadler has not yet seen a replay of that incident. 

Sadler bemoans officiating in Walsall defeat

"The performance was very good. I'm not naive in that we have to pepper the goalkeeper more and we have to make him make more saves," boss Sadler said.

"That wasn't there in some parts but the performance was outstanding. I thought we got let down by the ref. 

"There was a clear penalty on Charlie Lakin, Evan Weir has got elbowed in the back of the head, which was right in front of the referee. 

"I haven't seen the handball in the second half, but it looked like it. The Charlie one I've seen and it's a definite penalty, so that was frustrating."

Despite an improved performance on home soil, Walsall extended their winless run to six league games at Bescot. 

They have also suffered three successive home defeats in the league for the first time since February 2022. 

That latest setback has seen them drop one-place to 11th, although they remain just three points adrift of the play-offs. 

And Walsall now face a defining period when they face four of the top seven in the space of just 10 days.

Results will come with performances - Sadler

But Sadler feels performances such as the one produced against Fleetwood with herald positive results in the long run.

"I've told you before some of the reasons why it maybe hasn't quite looked right and some of the bits and pieces that we've done has unsettled that a little bit," he continued.

"We've seen how that has settled down again now. We have to keep believing that performances will bring you results. 

"Getting that first goal was key for them and we couldn't quite break them down in the end which was the frustration. 

"But with that performance, I think we win that comfortable on another day, but we just fell short tonight."

Connor Barrett and Harrison Burke dropped out of the squad, while Mason Hancock and Alfie Chang also remained absent. 

On his selection, he added: "Both Harrison and Connor are fine. With Kacper Lopata, I was conscious of him covering all three positions across the defence. 

"That was the reason with him because maybe Harrison doesn't cover all three spots. With Connor, I just wanted to get another striker on the bench [Aaron Loupalo-Bi]. 

"On Alfie, Brandon [Comley] has been outstanding recently and those competition for places are strong."