Mat Sadler staying calm over Nathan Lowe’s future after Walsall’s latest win

Walsall boss Mat Sadler insisted uncertainty over top scorer Nathan Lowe’s future will not derail his League Two leaders after they impressively dispatched promotion rivals Doncaster 2-0.

On-loan forward Lowe’s 11th league goal of the season helped the Saddlers move nine points clear at the summit as they extended their unbeaten run to 12 games.

His parent club Stoke, who are struggling in the Championship, have a recall option in January but Sadler says he has contingency plans in place whatever happens.

“We’ve got a fantastic relationship with Stoke – Nathan is doing great and hopefully they see the benefit of what we’re doing with him for the long term,” Sadler said.

“Whatever happens, it is what it is. We try to prepare for every eventuality and in the window we will try to strengthen, that was always the plan and always will be the plan.”

Walsall have lost top-scoring loanees in the past two seasons – Danny Johnson in 2023 and Lincoln’s Freddie Draper last winter – but were not automatic promotion contenders either time.

“What’s clearly different is that the club is in a strong place,” Sadler said. “The chairman will back me in the way he can and we will plan as much as we possibly can whichever way it goes.

“We’re here to strengthen, to come out of the window stronger, whatever that looks like.”

Lowe steered home Connor Barrett’s cut-back to give Walsall an early second-half lead and a Harry Williams header sealed the points shortly after the defender hit the post.

“We got stronger as the game went on and we showed the desire to score more goals, and on another day we probably would have done,” Sadler said.

“But we can’t rest, we have to keep going, keep being who we are.”

Doncaster, who stay third, fashioned decent second-half chances themselves for Billy Sharp, Joseph Olowu and Joe Ironside.

“There wasn’t much in the game and two bits of quality from Walsall decided it,” said Rovers boss Grant McCann.

“We had similar types of moments and when you’re coming to the top of the league you need to take them, and we didn’t.

“The second half we didn’t give ourselves a chance to get started. For all the good we did in the first half, we let it slip straight away.

“From an energy and work ethic point of view, the team did everything they could but the quality aspect let us down.

“There were too many shots going wide, one or two hitting the corner flag. We’ve got to be better than that, there’s no question.

“The season is long and we’re not always going to be perfect. We’re obviously disappointed today but more with the result than the performance.”