Mat Sadler delighted as Walsall take points from former side Shrewsbury

Mat Sadler was delighted to give Walsall’s travelling support something to sing and dance about after their 2-1 League Two victory at in-form Shrewsbury.

Saddlers’ boss Sadler was part of the Shrewsbury side which relegated Walsall to League Two on the final day of the 2018/19 campaign.

This season marks the first season where the two sides have been in the same division since.

Priestley Farquharson scored a goal in each half, either side of Iwan Morgan’s free-kick, as the visitors ended their seven-match winless run with a vital three points for their play-off push.

Over 1,600 visiting fans made the trip to Shropshire and Sadler said: “I was here as a player six or seven years ago and it was the same support that day on what was a tough day for the club.

“These are memory days for those fans and I’m pleased we’ve managed to be able to give them that.

“To come back here and make that memory was brilliant and I’m chuffed to bits.

“In terms of the game, I thought the performance was great and we dominated.

“It’s a proper win – a proper us win. Team performance, club performance, really delighted with that.

“This was definitely back to being the Walsall we’ve been in the three years since I’ve come here. We needed that.

“It was one of the toughest tests in the division today, coming here to a team who have won five (matches) in a row so I’m delighted.”

And on match-winner Farquharson, Sadler added: “Defensively I thought he was class.

“In the attacking sense, I think it’s his fifth goal of the season now, so keep getting him free. He’s a nuisance from set plays.”

Shrewsbury saw their five-game winning streak ended with their first home defeat since New Year’s Day and they finished the game with 10 men after Josh Ruffels was sent off late on for a high boot on Jamie Jellis.

Head coach Gavin Cowan said: “We’re obviously really disappointed with the result.

“I feel slightly aggrieved because a defeat feels really harsh for us. The lads gave absolutely everything.

“The minimum we ask of them is hard work and desire to do a job-and-a-half and we can’t say the players didn’t give their everything today.

“Were we naive at times? A little bit, yes.

“I’m hugely disappointed for the lads. But you have to zoom out and I’m really proud of them.

“No one’s carved through us in seven or eight games now.

“It was very unlike us because we got caught on two set pieces and that is frustrating.

“It’s difficult. We had a big thing about not giving away cheap free-kicks and we’ve got undone by two free-kicks.

“It was good strategy from Walsall. They’ve etched a plan to be pretty soft and fall over at the right times.

“Sometimes you’ve got to do that when things aren’t going for you. That’s when you need a strong referee.”