Mat Sadler reacts as Walsall storm 12 points clear at the summit with Newport win

Nathan Lowe bagged a brace to extend his tally to 16 goals across all competitions and help guide Walsall to a sixth consecutive league win. 

But Walsall had to overcome a difficult challenge to move on to 13 games unbeaten and Sadler was delighted with how his team dealt with Newport's possession-based style.

He said: "It was a really tough game like I knew it would be. Newport have got a really good style. We were aware of that and it took us a little bit of time and maybe half an hour into the game to really start to affect that. 

"The pleasing thing for me was the lads did it without me having to tell them to do it. We were aware that we weren't as aggressive as we wanted to be and we got together and got our wing-backs a lot higher. 

"That really started to improve things in terms of that press. I showed a few clips on the screen at half-time about how we wanted to hurt them and also about how we wanted to be more aggressive. 

"I think we were from the first whistle in the second half but we have to commend the opposition because they passed the ball around really well and made it a tough challenge. 

"But credit to the group. We problem solved and got on top of the game and there was only one winner in the game so I was very pleased with that perspective." 

Lowe had a pair of chances prior to his second half double with a wayward header before the break and a missed half-volley just 90 seconds prior to his opener. 

But the teenager was unfazed as he sealed the win with two clinical finishes and Sadler commended the forward for both his attitude and his goal scoring ability. 

He continued: "I said to Darren Byfield, scream on and tell him to smile but he didn't need that. He just went after the next one and when it fell to him again, he takes it on. 

"He's a fantastic finisher, we've seen that. He's a wonderful young man to work with and a great young player. 

"And he took his finishes really well today."