Mat Sadler has his say on Walsall's 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town

Set pieces proved Walsall's undoing and they found themselves two goals down after just 17 minutes. 

Mackenzie Hunt delivered a delightful free-kick onto Rooney's head to open the scoring in the 12th minute. 

Fleetwood doubled their advantage just five minutes later when Hunt drove a low corner into the box for James Bolton to finish past Tommy Simkin. 

Sadler said: "The game was very much won and lost on set plays today. We pride ourselves and we've been very good on our set plays but unfortunately we weren't tonight. 

"That was about in terms of the game itself. There weren't many clear cut chances either way but on such a difficult pitch, we knew set plays were going to be key today and unfortunately we fell the other side.

"We needed to get it into our strikers a little bit more. We didn't play in enough good areas in the first half which they did and they obviously had the momentum from scoring."

Ethan Wheatley was handed his full debut after joining on loan from Manchester United last week while Jamie Jellis also returned from illness. 

Walsall did show signs of improvement in the second half with Liam Gordon heading over at the back post before Josh Gordon and Wheatley drew comfortable saves from Jay Lynch. 

But a comeback was never on the cards as Walsall drew a blank for the second game in succession in League Two for the first time since November 2023. 

"Second half, I thought we came out with a real purpose to reverse the first half but it wasn't quite to be. 

"But the message is very clear whether we win or lose. It's on to the next game, on to the next challenge and I don't think anyone thought it was going to be a straight line. 

"There are always going to be deviations throughout the season because that's the nature of League Two. I know that we'll dust ourselves down and go again."