Boss praises players after dramatic derby win...
Walsall manager Jon Whitney was happy to see his team win ‘ugly’ against managerless Shrewsbury.Erhun Oztumer’s 88th-minute goal direct from a corner proved the difference in a five-goal derby thriller after earlier strikes from Amadou Bakayoko and Kieron Morris had been cancelled out.
It was the Saddlers' third straight win in all competitions and Whitney felt the three points were deserved.
“It was a proper derby,” he said. “The only threat to us was ourselves when we perhaps had too many touches, similar to the Bolton game where they didn’t pass it quick enough.
“We fell into that trap a little bit and for 5-10 minutes we didn’t pass it well enough or quick enough, but then we clicked a bit, pressed higher and created quite a few opportunities.
“Sometimes it’s not about winning comfortably and playing great football, sometimes it’s about winning ugly and doing the basics better than the opposition, and I thought we did that.
“We were disappointed to concede from two set-pieces, and we’ll look at that, but it’s nice to look at it when you’ve won – which I thought we deserved.
“I’m pleased, that’s three wins now on the bounce and one defeat in seven. I said to the lads that if we can end the day with another win, it builds momentum and more confidence heading into Tuesday.”