Lalkovic impressed with his new boss...
In-form attacker Milan Lalkovic says he is enjoying working under the Saddlers’ new head coach Sean O’Driscoll.Wolverhampton-born O’Driscoll has won each of his two matches since taking charge at the Banks’s nine days ago.
And Lalkovic, who also worked with O’Driscoll at Doncaster, has been full of praise for his new boss.
“I was sad when the gaffer (Dean Smith) left,” admitted Lalkovic.
“But I knew Sean was free and I told one of the people on the board that I really liked him.
“He gave me my debut when I was 18 at Doncaster. He’s a really good manager, a really good coach and he’s already added something to our game.
“He’s tweaked things slightly, never before had we gone two up top (against Port Vale).
“That was something new and it was a good substitution because we won the game.
“We’ll keep going step by step and I think I’m going to really enjoy working with him.”
Walsall maintained their 100% start under O’Driscoll with a 1-0 Boxing Day success over Millwall at The Den, courtesy of Lalkovic’s cool first-half finish.
“It was a really tough game,” said the 23-year-old.
“They played a lot of long balls and we knew it was going to be a second ball game but we dug deep. Everybody did well.
“Sometimes you work hard as a striker and it doesn’t come for you. But today it dropped for me and I finished.
“I’m really pleased with the three points from a tough game, at a tough place to go.”
Lalkovic’s match-winner came on 29 minutes, when he latched onto a long ball before confidently slotting past Millwall keeper David Forde.
“I scored a similar goal a few years ago for Chelsea in the Youth Cup,” he added.
“I chased the ball, it dropped for me and it was a calm finish.
“This season, my goals have been quite similar in that I haven’t panicked. I’m more consistent and if my goals help the team, then fantastic.”
The Slovakian has now scored more goals for the Saddlers this season (7), than he did during his first spell here two years ago (6).
“It’s a nice feeling to beat that,” he admitted.
“People were telling me that with my ability I should be getting more goals so I really thought about it and I’m getting into more goalscoring positions and finishing the chances.
“I could have already had more goals this season and (against Millwall) I probably should have scored the other one when Romaine passed it to me.
“But I’m working hard and I’m happy to score and get the win.”
Lalkovic and co are back in action when Walsall host Peterborough tomorrow afternoon.