Crewe 0-3 Walsall: Albert Adomah bags a brace as post-Mat Sadler era begins with victory

Interim boss Darren Byfield promised front-foot football and Adomah needed just four minutes to open the scoring with a classy flicked finish. 

Daniel Kanu had his penalty saved by Ian Lawlor and headed another glorious chance on to the post in the first half. 

Aaron Pressley climbed off the pitch and wrapped up the win when he added the finishing touches to a superb cross from Adomah with seven minutes to go.

Adomah capped a magical afternoon when the Walsall favourite chipped in a third to bag his brace.

Walsall climbed two places into 10th after ending a three-match losing streak, but remain three points adrift of the play-off spots, 

Byfield dispensed with the 3-5-2 formation and opted for a 4-3-3 in the first game since Sadler was relieved of his duties earlier this week.

Rico Browne started at right-back for his first league appearance since New Year's Day - while Aden Flint was left out of the squad after previously started every game in League Two this term. 

Harrison Burke, Mason Hancock and Adomah were also recalled at the expense of Evan Weir, Vincent Harper and Pressley.

Adomah started on the right wing and Jid Okeke started on the other, with Kanu leading the line as the sole striker.

Crewe shuffled their pack with a change from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-2-3-1 from their 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers, as Calum Agius replaced James Connolly.

The change in system liberated Walsall and they took just four minutes to hit the front from their first attack of the game.

Mason Hancock's initial cross was cleared, but Adomah escaped his marker to apply the deftest of flicks into the far corner from Charlie Lakin's driven cross. 

Walsall pressed in a 4-1-4-1 and prevented Crewe from building out from the back with an efficient out-of-possession performance. 

Jamie Jellis threaded a delightful reverse pass into the path of Adomah but the 38-year-old snatched at the opportunity which he dragged wide.

Adomah rolled back the years and sent Kanu racing away before he was tripped inside the box by Crewe goalkeeper Lawlor. 

Lawlor redeemed himself for his penalty concession from a Crewe perspective when he sprung to his left to thwart Kanu from the spot. 

Kanu continued his quest to end his goal drought, which was extended to six games, when he headed Okeke's dinked cross on to the post with Lawlor rooted to the spot.

Myles Roberts was called upon for the first time just before the interval when he sprawled to his right to claw behind Matúš Holíček's acrobatic effort.

Browne was forced off midway into the second half after struggling to recover from a knock late in the first half and Harper surprisingly slotted in at right-back. 

Pressley was introduced as the sole striker as Kanu shifted out to the left wing, as Crewe made numerous attacking changes. 

Comley made a crucial interception to prevent Josh March from meeting a low cutback by Tommi O'Reilly from the by-line. 

But Pressley almost marked his emergence from the bench with a goal when he flicked another excellent delivery from Jellis just inches wide of the far post.

Kanu had squared for Lakin moments before, but the cross was slightly behind him and he eventual shot was blocked.

Walsall doubled their lead in the 83rd-minute when Adomah continued his dazzling display with a blistering run down the right. He crossed low to the near post and Pressley got in front of his marker to guide his finish past Lawlor. 

Adomah put the seal on the win in stoppage time when he broke free and dinked a tidy finish over the onrushing Lawlor to send the away fans into raptures.

Next, Walsall welcome Cambridge United to Bescot on Tuesday under the lights, before hosting Newport County four days later. 

Teams

Walsall (4-3-3): Roberts; Browne (Pressley 66), Farquharson, Burke, Hancock; Jellis (Pattison 71), Comley, Lakin; Adomah, Kanu (Lopata 81), Okeke (Harper 66).

Not used: Hornby, Chang, Loupalo-Bi.

Crewe (4-2-3-1): Lawlor; Billington, Pond, Demetriou, Hutchinson (Connelly 52); Thomas (Sanders 70), Powell (Bogle 52); O'Reilly, Holicek (Lankester 70), Agius; March (Tezgel 70).

Not used: Booth, Thibaut.

Other Details

Referee: Stephen Parkinson 

Attendance:5,885