Mat Sadler highlights concern behind Walsall's successive home defeats

Walsall fell to successive home league defeats for the first time in two-and-a-half years after they were beaten 3-1 by play-off contenders Grimsby Town on Saturday. 

Ellis Harrison opened the scoring inside six minutes but Jayden Luker levelled midway into the first half with a precise finish after Walsall switched off at a set piece. 

Danny Rose fired them ahead from the spot on the cusp of half-time and Luker bagged his brace in the second half to compound Walsall's misery. 

Despite Walsall struggling to build anything of note after scoring, especially in the second half, Sadler feels that the patterns of play are still clear to see, but argued that it's been difficult at home.

He said: "I would disagree that (patterns of play) have disappeared. I think it's been hard at home because the ball doesn't move very well. 

"Away from home, we showed some really good patterns in our play on Tuesday night and there was some good feedback on that. 

"I thought it was exactly the same against Cheltenham. It's really difficult to play on there, the ball doesn't move very well and that is what it is. 

"For us, we've got to find different ways. That's the key for me and how do we find that? 

"The good thing is that the sun will shine and we'll get that grass growing. I think it's clear to see that it's having an impact because it's becoming at times very difficult to play on."

Walsall remain top of League Two by two points after second-place Bradford City surprisingly lost 1-0 at Gillingham. 

Fourth-place AFC Wimbledon won 2-0 against Notts County to close the gap behind the Saddlers to eight points.