Mat Sadler hails "relentless" Walsall performance after 4-2 win over MK Dons

Walsall began life without leading scorer Nathan Lowe by scoring four goals, with three defenders getting on the score sheet. 

MK Dons caught Walsall on the break and took the lead against the run of play when Scott Hogan chopped on to his right foot and lashed an unerring finish past Tommy Simkin with 14 minutes on the clock. 

But Walsall refused to fold and hauled themselves level when David Okagbue scrambled the ball over the line following Tom McGill's catastrophic spillage inside the six-yard box. 

And Sadler was pleased with the start his side made and the reaction they showed after falling behind.

He said: "I thought we played well before the goal. We started really well and we settled down after the goal and didn't let it phase us that we conceded.

"They were a little bit more direct than I've seen them play before and they tried to take our press out by doing that. But we adjusted to that and we worked so hard for second balls when it did go over the top of us. 

"We were relentless. We just wanted to keep going after the next thing and that was evident from the front to the back. 

"Jamille Matt and Albert Adomah were unbelievable. The pair of them set the platform for the rest of the team. 

"As we've said loads of times with those two guys this year and the others that back it up. It was a proper team shift today."

Liam Gordon needed just 25 seconds to fire Walsall into the lead after the restart when he planted his half-volley into the bottom corner. 

Walsall went on to produce a stunning second half display with goals from Harry Williams and Albert Adomah helping them cruise to another maximum points. 

Kane Thompson-Sommers picked out the top corner from distance to reduce the arrears but Walsall retained their 12-point lead at the summit and extended their unbeaten run to 16 league games. 

Sadler was pleased with the power his team demonstrated as they blew MK away in the second half.

"Second half I thought we were tremendously powerful, strong and athletic," the Walsall boss continued. 

"It was a really pleasing performance from us. I'll enjoy it for tonight but we'll get right back on the horse as soon as the next thing comes around. 

"It's the same message that we have always said. We want to find different ways of winning games and I thought our set plays were really important today. 

"We looked a constant threat and I thought we could've had two or three more from them and it could've been a different game again. But the fourth goal with the press and the way that we got after that, there were just lots of really impressive performances today."