Pictures and analysis of Carlisle 0 Walsall 3

As Walsall cruised past the 50-point barrier – their pre-season target achieved with two months to spare – Brunton Park stood as one.

So good were the Saddlers, the disgruntled Carlisle fans forgot their ire to applaud the victorious visitors off.

They had already afforded the fantastic Febian Brandy his own standing ovation when he was replaced late on.

Will Grigg's first senior hat-trick will rightly hog the headlines but it was a 3-0 win so comfortable, so dominant, it sent a statement to the rest of League One last night.

With 11 games left and the play-offs in sight, don't write Walsall off. There is a challenge to be had, even if boss Dean Smith remains coy.

Six points is not insurmountable. The Saddlers sit ninth and stranger things have happened.

'We are staying up' chanted the loyal away support, a song heard so much over the last few years but more in hope than expectation.

Previous renditions were to raise morale, the Great Escape season of two years ago is still fresh, but last night it was sung with certainty.

But Saddlers fans may want to revise the chant to 'we are going up' should the team continue their brilliant form.

One defeat in 2013 heading into March – and Saturday's revenge mission against Shrewsbury – leaves the team with nine wins in their last 13 games.

The 13-match winless streak earlier in the season may still kibosh their hopes but there is no harm in banging the promotion drum after so many barren seasons.

The players and management will remain calm, the odds are against them, but their form gives little reason to doubt a late charge.

And last night was so comfortable it was embarrassing as the unplayable Brandy ruled and the ruthless Grigg destroyed the Cumbrians.

Brandy ripped Carlisle apart and Grigg profited from his team-mates' hard work as Adam Chambers bossed the midfield and brother James impressed at the back.

It has taken Grigg four-and-a-half years of graft and toil but he is emerging into the striker some doubted he could be.

A tally of 14 goals is 10 better than last year and last night he was clinical with all the panache of a seasoned hitman.

An extra yard of pace, a little extra nous and – above all – improved finishing gives Grigg the chance to be the feared striker the Saddlers have craved since Matt Fryatt.

Still only 21, he will improve, but 20 goals is within his sights and he is another who has blossomed under Smith.

And it was Grigg's and the Saddlers' night in Carlisle after they dominated from the start.

James Chambers had replaced the unlucky Ben George – who was axed completely – at right-back while Craig Westcarr returned for the benched James Baxendale.

And the changes reaped instant reward as the visitors went ahead inside the first three minutes.

Jamie Paterson's wonderful cross-field ball found Brandy and his cushioned pass fell to the onrushing James Chambers who was clattered by Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie after 90 seconds.

Grigg smashed in the resulting penalty with United shell-shocked.

Walsall, in contrast, relaxed and Brandy saw a header blocked after 10 minutes before Paterson's low effort was claimed by Gillespie.

It was painfully comfortable for the Saddlers as United, subdued and toothless, lacked the urgency or penetration to threaten.

Grigg was then inches away from connecting with Westcarr's cross as Walsall exploited the vast space on United's flanks.

The Cumbrians finally tested Aaron McCarey after 22 minutes when he parried Liam Noble's 25-yard drive

It gave United much needed belief and David Symington fired wide from distance as the Saddlers briefly looked vulnerable.

Sam Mantom then tested Gillespie from distance with Walsall's only worry being Carlisle could not be as bad in the second half.

Two wayward efforts from Symington signalled the hosts' intentions after the break but they were barely footnotes in Walsall's continued dominance.

Westcarr almost doubled the lead on 56 minutes but his shot was saved by Gillespie as Smith's men searched for the second, clinching, goal.

The Saddlers survived a scare when McCarey superbly turned Lee Miller's header wide on the hour but any fears evaporated with Grigg's second six minutes later.

The striker found the corner from 15 yards after Brandy's terrific run and pass left Carlisle trailing.

It was no more than Walsall deserved but they were indebted to Paul Downing who hacked Mark Beck's hooked shot away after McCarey's spill. Substitute Beck then beat McCarey with a low drive but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

And Grigg killed the game off with his treble with four minutes remaining when he followed up after Brandy's shot was blocked.

Mission accomplished – now for the next one.

By Nick Mashiter