Mat Sadler praises "headline" act Jamille Matt as Walsall set club record winning streak

Jamille Matt scored twice to move on to a century goals in the Football League either side of Ryan Stirk's low drive from distance to put Walsall in the driving seat. 

Jamie Jellis got involved in the act to add a fourth in the 72nd minute before Nathan Lowe put the seal on a comfortable victory with his 18th goal of the season in all competitions. 

Matt was targeting a first hat-trick in over four years before he was brought off late on but Sadler was delighted to see him reap the rewards for another outstanding display. 

He said: "I thought he was what he is. He just works so hard for the team and is such a focal point for us and he affects defender. 

"Long may that continue. I thought he did fantastically well today and I'm glad he got the headline with the brace. 

"I don't know if we wanted me to bring him off because he was going for his hat-trick but I thought it was a proper team performance. Everyone did what they needed to do and threw themselves into the challenge." 

Walsall extended their lead at the summit to 13 points before the 3pm kick-offs and stretched their unbeaten run to 15 matches. 

But Sadler insists he won't be affording himself an opportunity to rest with plenty of work still ahead. 

"We've got another game at Peterborough on Tuesday. That's all I'm thinking about so no there isn't and there shouldn't be either because we're in the middle of a job," he continued.

"Not too many plasterers celebrate putting the first coat of paint on. I'm talking like a tradesmen when I haven't got a clue (he laughs). 

"But there's a lot of work still to be done." 

Tranmere did momentarily threaten to mount a fightback despite being reduced to 10-men nine minutes before the break. 

Sam Finley was shown a second yellow card for dragging the ball back with his arm but Connor Jennings halved the deficit on the cusp of half-time. 

But the message in the changing room was clear from Sadler, as Walsall pressed home their dominance in the second half to cruise to victory in the end. 

"I thought we played really well. We started the game well and really put them on the back foot. Our goals settled things down for us and I thought we were brilliant for the first 40 minutes," he noted.

"There was that part in the middle of the first half where it got a little bit fractious. When they scored their goal, it gives you something different to talk about at half-time and I could understand it to a degree because I thought the sending off and the goal helped them. 

"The message at half-time was just to make sure that we continue doing what we do. Not getting into anyone else's game, just play the way that we play, and we did that."