Analysis: Star loanee leading way again for high-flying Walsall

The youngster, who only turned 19 last week, extended his tally to four goals in six games after the restart, before turning provider for Charlie Lakin moments later.

Walsall were solid in the first half and stemmed the flow of Salford’s attacks with an organised and disciplined shape off the ball. For all of Salford’s possession, Walsall restricted them to very little and had the better chances.

Harry Williams flicked his header wide and Taylor Allen’s shot from distance brought the very best out of Salford shot-stopper Jamie Jones.

Yet when the half-whistle blew, there was a sense that Walsall were yet to get out of first gear.

The wing-backs had struggled to advance on either side and Jamille Matt and Lowe had been marshalled expertly by veteran defender Curtis Tilt.

That changed after the break when Walsall embarked on an early second-half siege which saw them put the contest out of reach.

Connor Barrett exploded into life down the right and set-up a gilt-edged chance for Lakin, who would’ve opened the scoring had it not been for the lightning reactions of Jones once again.

That would prove to be a prelude for things to come. With the next attack, Williams unleashed a fizzing pass out wide for Barrett to terrorise Luke Garbutt again.

He delivered into the 18-yard box and Lowe, with his first clear sight of goal, made no mistake with a sublime sweeping first-time finish into the top corner.

Lowe has joined a growing collection of prolific loan strikers to light up Bescot in recent seasons, with Freddie Draper and Danny Johnson before him.

It feels as if the teenager has the ability to surpass both in the goal scoring ranks and he could’ve bagged a quick-fire brace had Jones not been in such inspired form between the sticks.

The second goal did arrive within six minutes of the first and Lowe played another defining role.

Barrett, continuing his rampant raid down the right, hung a ball high to the back post. Lowe, pivoting excellently to cast the ball under his spell, produced a delightful cushioned touch before unselfishly teeing up Lakin. The midfielder then caressed an unerring finish past Jones to open his goalscoring account for the club in League

Two.

Lakin has taken time to adjust to life at Walsall, but his influence appears to be ascending game by game of late.

As for Barrett, Walsall have found themselves another gem, and an upgrade on Tom Knowles from last season.

Barrett has already matched Knowles’ tally of five assists for the whole of the previous campaign and is just six shy of his tally of 11 for former club AFC Flyde last term.

The defence took centre stage for the closing stages and Williams was a colossus at the heart of it.

Williams, relishing his latest run in the team, was a commanding force throughout and has staked a claim to become a permanent fixture in the backline from the evidence of his current form.

Allen also produced a performance to be proud of on an emotional occasion following the passing of his father last week.

It’s impossible to imagine how difficult that 90 minutes would’ve been for the defender, but he continues to serve as a class act both on and off the pitch, who has become a hero in the eyes of many Saddlers’ fans over the past year.

And the defence contributed as a collective. David Okagbue also got a vital toe to Hakeeb Adelakun’s goal-bound shot prior to Walsall’s opener, and Tommy Simkin played his part with a pair of saves to deny Salford’s summer signing.

That preserved Walsall’s second clean sheet on the road – doubling their tally of just one from the previous campaign. And Walsall also ended a run of back-to-back away defeats to propel themselves to within one-point of the league summit with a fifth win in seven

games.

Their storming start is all the more remarkable when you consider Mat Sadler’s men registered the same tally in their first 19 games last season.

Next, Walsall prepare for a bumper crowd on Tuesday night when Premier League outfit Leicester City visit Bescot under the lights.

The good times keep rolling and the cup form has only helped increase the positivity flowing through the club.

Many regard Tuesday as a free hit, but if they can pull off an upset, then it will only reinforce the feeling that something special could be happening at Walsall.