Darren Byfield impressed by Albert Adomah display as Walsall ease past Crewe

Darren Byfield praised the contribution of veteran striker Albert Adomah after inspiring a 3-0 win at Crewe in Walsall’s first game under their caretaker manager.

The 38-year-old Adomah started and finished a perfect afternoon for the Saddlers, who got their play-off hopes back on track after a dreadful run of one win in 11 games cost former boss Mat Sadler his job earlier this week.

Adomah flicked home a fourth-minute opener and chipped Crewe keeper Ian Lawlor in stoppage time for the third goal, having earlier set up the second for substitute Aaron Pressley with a searing run.

The win puts Walsall level on points with Crewe and three points off the top seven.

“Albert is so important to this club, the way he conducts himself in training and the way he is an example to the younger players,” said Byfield.

“He prepares well, he eats right and sleeps right and he was unbelievable today. I’m lost for words as he’s a super guy. He’s helped me out, but so have many others and it’s a team game.

“The boys had one day to implement what I asked them to do and they did. We had three players at the top who would cause any defence in this league problems and players who could come off the bench like Pressley.

“This is a good squad, but we need to be more consistent. We could have scored more, but I don’t want to be speaking about how good a performance it was without winning games.

“Crewe are a good team and their manager is a wonderful person who came into our dressing room to speak to our lads after we missed out on the play-offs here last season. So this was a really proud day to be in charge.”

Adomah was a sprightly presence throughout, no more so than when he flicked Charlie Lakin’s cross past Lawlor for a fourth-minute opener.

Lawlor was then punished for a trip on Daniel Kanu after 31 minutes, but the former Doncaster keeper dived across to his right to thwart his penalty.

Kanu also headed against the post in a first half dominated by Walsall, and although Crewe improved after the break, Adomah gave James Connolly the slip to cross for Pressley to finish for the second goal seven minutes from time.

The veteran then rounded things off with a neat chip over Lawlor in stoppage time.

Crewe boss Lee Bell said: “It was a bad afternoon for us and that is what you get when you don’t have the energy over the pitch to pick up second phases.

“But the players have been magnificent and if fans have an issue they should direct them at me. I’m not looking at decisions against us, like offside or the penalty, I’m looking at us losing second balls.

“I don’t like losing at home and we’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”