Mat Sadler praises 'quality' Evan Weir after his brace in Walsall's win over Tranmere

Tranmere were in the ascendency heading towards the interval until Weir bagged his brace with a stunning half-volley just outside the box. 

Sadler pinpointed that goal as a key moment in the game, which ultimately provided Walsall with the platform to kick on in the second half.

"We know that was a key point in the game and we were probably thinking lets get to half-time, and then reassess things and make some adjustments," Sadler said. 

"Evan showed that quality to get us in front and it's a big thing having a player of that quality. 

"It's very difficult to score goals, but his left foot, especially when it's a tight game, is a great asset to have."

Daniel Kanu added a third with a couple of elegant touches inside the box and a composed finish into the bottom corner just past the hour. 

Although Walsall scored four times, it was a much tighter battle than the score-line possibly suggests. 

Billy Blacker's deflected goal from distance threatened to set-up a tense finale, but fellow substitute Albert Adomah put the seal on the win less than two minutes later. 

Sadler admitted there were tough moments in the game but praised his team for the character they showed to overcome that.

"Tranmere were on top five minutes before they scored, I turned to my staff and said 'that was coming'," he continued.

"We had to suffer, we did and we came through the other side of it. That's a really important trait to have in any team. 

"It's never going to be easy, it's never going to be one way, but today we showed real character and heart. 

"Then when the quality moments came, I thought Connor did brilliantly for Daniel's goal and he showed the class that he has."

Sadler also credited the subs for helping manage the game, and revealed that Jamie Jellis was missing from the match day squad due to illness.

"The positives for me, we managed to grind it out, we had to show loads of different sides to us and the finishers were unbelievable when they came on," he added.

"Albert gets the plaudits, but Jamille, Courtney and Priestley were incredible. For me though, Coms was great and he really steadied the ship for us. 

"The roles are so important that they're doing for the team and it gives us the extra impetus to go again. 

"I feel very lucky with the squad that I have. Jamie [Jellis] was not quite ready today through illness, Rico Richards didn't even get on today. 

"The squad that we have is very impressive. I have to keep everyone honest and raring to go."