Darrell Clarke happy for Walsall strikers to hit target

Striker Elijah Adebayo and winger Wes McDonald both scored their first goals for the club in the 3-2 win away at Crawley.

The Saddlers have been criticised throughout the season for not scoring enough goals, while Caolan Lavery was the only striker to get on the scoresheet before Saturday's game.

And while Clarke was pleased for his players, he says winning is more important.

“We just want to win," he said.

“For me as a manager, win, win the next game, win it 1-0, win it 3-0, whatever, just win.

“It’s pleasing for Elijah (Adebayo) to get a goal, that’s why I don’t say a lot about injuries because everybody thought he was ruled out for the game, so that’s why I don’t give people heads up.

“Then he’s come in, had a real good 60 minutes and took his goal well.

“Wes (McDonald) as well, I thought Wes was outstanding, we’ve been asking for him in training and looking for a lot more, Marcus Stewart’s been working a lot on him coming inside and finishing those critical chances, then going on the outside to set up Elijah as well.

“Very pleased for Wes."

Around 264 fans made the trip from the Black Country to West Sussex for Saturday's game and Clarke was again vocal on how their support drives the team on.

“Outstanding again, they’re (the fans) getting behind the team, really getting behind the lads," he added.

"It’s just pleasing we got a few more goals so we can lose a little bit of a tag we’ve got at the minute that we’re not scoring enough goals.

“We want to be consistent with that and keep going, but the main thing is we win football matches."

And while it was Walsall's third win in three games, after only one win in eight league games before that, Darrell Clarke is refusing to get carried away as the club look to build on the positive results.

When asked if he sees the win over Crawley as a statement to the league, he said: “No, see it as three points."