Mat Sadler praises experienced Walsall duo Jamille Matt and Aden Flint

Boss Mat Sadler hailed his elder statesmen at both ends of the pitch as leaders Walsall grafted for a 1-0 win over Crewe in League Two.

A pair of 36-year-olds combined to decide it, Jamille Matt sweeping home the rebound two minutes into first-half stoppage time after Aden Flint’s far-post-header from Evan Weir’s free-kick to the back post had been shovelled out but into the danger zone by goalkeeper Sam Waller.

Flint also contributed to the only other meaningful action of the first half, coolly nodding off the line a Calum Agius header that had looked destined to drop in having looped over Myles Roberts 12 minutes in.

The Saddlers enjoyed more of the ball and territory throughout the first half and had an extra edge in the second, passing up decent opportunities before having to hold on at the death.

Crewe turned the screw with a series of stoppage-time corners but without breaking through as the table-toppers secured a fourth clean sheet in six unbeaten league matches.

“Aden has been brilliant in both boxes, as we saw with the goal he is a real threat,” said Sadler.

“He is a top bloke who knows this level very well through an outstanding career and we love working with each other.

“We are very lucky to have the squad we have. Jamille is playing very well at the moment as well, doing his job for the team and I was delighted to see him get what was a proper striker’s goal.

“In the first half I wanted to see us mix the football up a little bit, I felt we could really get it into the strikers and play that mixed football that we like to see.”

Walsall could have wrapped it up after the break, half-time substitute Courtney Clarke having a close-range shot charged down and Flint eventually cleared the bar from a scrappy third bite at a corner to the far post.

The pick of Walsall’s chances came 14 minutes from time when Aaron Pressley scuffed off target Connor Barrett’s square ball to give Crewe nothing to lose in a last-ditch siege in which Roberts repelled substitute Omar Bogle’s lash at close quarters, leaving visiting manager Lee Bell to rue the fine margins.

“Two moments killed us,” he said.

“We gave away an unnecessary free-kick with 20 seconds of the first half remaining. Overall it had been a pleasing first half, there wasn’t much in it.

“The other was that we should have had a stonewall penalty. Lunty (Owen Lunt) crossed the ball and we have watched it back, the lad’s arm was stuck out, and those two moments cost us.

“Walsall are very good at what they do. They make you feel like you are in complete control of the game but nullify everything you do in the final third and they then have a real threat going forward.”