Walsall 3 Colchester 1 - analysis

Bienvenido de nuevo, Emmanuel – welcome back, Emmanuel.

As Emmanuel Ledesma walked off with his job done last night Kevan Hurst, Jamie Paterson and then boss Dean Smith embraced him. The Banks's Stadium rose as one to acclaim their returning hero.

The Saddlers' little Argentine ace had announced his return and Walsall showed their survival instincts.

A 3-1 win over Colchester was needed – taking the Saddlers out of the League One drop zone and two points clear of the bottom four.

But it was the manner of victory – so comprehensive and so vivid – which added weight to Walsall's survival claims.

They were led by Ledesma. The 'Black Country Messi' was mesmeric, embarrassing a labouring Colchester and playing with the verve and freedom rarely afforded to the Saddlers this season.

A stunning free-kick to level and an assist for George Bowerman's game-clinching third were just the highlights of a devastating display.

Ledesma captured the imagination during his short spell last term – after signing to help the Great Escape – sparking the expectation which is now placed on him this year.

That belief – that he can lead the Saddlers from danger – is justified but must be checked slightly because he will not always get it right.

It is the nature of the beast, the curse of the flair player, but what a player to have in the armoury.

Smith has already said he wants Ledesma to stay but he will find it tough should the playmaker match his confidence with consistency.

Brighton's No.2 Mauricio Taricco watched on as a player they had on trial before he joined the Saddlers ran the show.

Hopefully, though, Smith's faith will be rewarded. He has invested a lot of time in a player who rejected the chance to stay at WS1 last year to return to Argentina and he will want that faith to be mutual.

There is no doubting Ledesma's ability but Smith was at pains to salute a complete team performance insisting his maestro shouldn't mask others.

Mat Sadler in particular was outstanding. On his 222nd career appearance the left-back finally scored his first senior goal.

It had been a long time coming but well worth it for a player who hasn't got the praise his consistent performances have deserved.

Left-back is not a glamorous job but the former Birmingham ace has been one of the Saddlers' top men this season and, pound for pound, Smith's best signing.

His goal-line clearance from Kayode Odejayi four minutes before Bowerman scored the 73th minute clincher was just as important as his 44th minute strike.

Before then Sadler had raced clean through only to shoot at Ben Williams as the hosts chased a game following Anthony Wordsworth's stunning 11th minute opener.

The U's top scorer brilliantly curled in from 25-yards to shellshock the Saddlers and leave the regulars with a familiar feeling.

After so many recent body blows – Yeovil's freak goals and Sheffield Wednesday's last-gasp winner – one would have been forgiven for thinking the Saddlers would melt.

They had come from behind to win just once this season – the late Boxing Day show against Sheffield Wednesday – and had begun slowly.

But, led by Ledesma, they rallied and Manny Smith thumped a header off the underside of the bar after 27 minutes.

Confident and dynamic, the hosts kept coming and Colchester, unbeaten in nine games prior to their Banks's arrival, wilted.

Ledesma pulled the strings and the 23-year-old equalised on 38 minutes with a brilliant 25-yard free kick.

Buoyant, Walsall pressed and their ambition was rewarded a minute before the break when Sadler drilled in after Williams flapped at Alex Nicholls' teasing cross.

It was a lead they held and extended when Bowerman – on for the injured Jon Macken – nodded in Ledesma's cross during a comfortable second half.

Even when the defence was breached Sadler denied Odejayi and David Grof saved from Steven Gillespie and Freddie Sears.

There was little doubt though and attention now turns to Saturday's trip to Rochdale. The two point cushion – three counting Walsall's superior goal difference – over Wycombe will be eroded should they lose at Spotland.

It is a chance to put daylight between them and the bottom four – one which cannot be passed up.

But with their little magician Walsall have again turned this season's survival race back in their favour.

Hasta Sabado, Emmanuel - see you Saturday, Emmanuel.

By Nick Mashiter