"If I can roll back the years then I will" - Albert Adomah on match-winning brace for Walsall

The 38-year-old shone on the right wing - scoring his first brace since 2017 and registering a sumptuous assist for Aaron Pressley. 

Adomah made his first league start in nine games and took just four minutes to open the scoring with an opportunistic flick past Crewe goalkeeper Ian Lawlor. 

The former Ghana international sprinted down the left and delivered an exquisite cross with the outside of his boot for Pressley to double the Saddlers' tally with seven minutes to go.

'If I can roll back the years, then I will'

And Adomah put the seal on the win on stoppage time when he latched on to substitute Alex Pattison's through ball to apply a dinked finish over the onrushing Lawlor.

"For me, I'm not thinking about my age. Yes my pace might be gone a little bit but that's football when you're getting on," Adomah declared.

"I'm just trying to keep up with the youngsters. If I can skip past someone, I try do that. If I can roll back the years then I will. 

"If I score then it's a bonus. It's just me playing out on the wing and just expressing myself. 

"That's what I said to the team as captain. Just be brave, let's show action and that's what we did today." 

Captain Albert: 'We have to show consistency'

Interim boss Darren Byfield handed Adomah the armband in the absence of Jamille Matt and Aden Flint, as the Walsall favourite led by example. 

Adomah paid tribute to Mat Sadler after he was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, but was pleased to end a challenging week on a high note.

"Sometimes we have to move on. Our old gaffer was a good friend to me and I don't want anyone to lose their job, but I know we have to move on," he said.

"The challenge is can we perform? That's what we did and we've got Daz in charge for now.

"He implemented changes and the challenge now is can we do it again? 

"It's sort of been a negative week, but now we turn it into a positive victory, but we have to keep that going and show consistency."

Walsall had won just twice in 14 games in League Two prior to their victory over Crewe, which arrested a run of three successive defeats. 

'It's hard when one person loses his job'

The Saddlers will now be aiming to end their seven-match winless run on home soil by registering a first win at Bescot in 2026 when they host third-placed Cambridge United on Tuesday.

And Adomah has called on himself and his teammates to step-up and give the supporters something to get behind after returning to winning ways at Crewe.

"We need our supporters at home, not just away, and it works both ways as well because the players need to step-up," he continued.

"It's hard when just one person loses his job. If I was the chairman, I would sack everyone if results are not going well.

"I think it works both ways. Players have to produce and our supporters have to back us at home with that same energy [as they do] away from home.

"If our supporters can bring that same sound then I'm sure we can replicate the performance. 

"When they hear their name being sung, especially the younger players, it gives them that extra boost. 

"And I'm sure our supporters can do that for us at home as well."