Walsall Football Club

EXPERIENCED central defender, Dean Holden, got his first taste of first-team action since April 2013 at the weekend when he replaced the injured James Chambers during the second half of our goalless draw with Bradford City.

Player-coach Holden missed the whole of last season through injury, but has worked over the summer and is now back to full fitness.

He slotted smoothly back into the back-line as we kept a clean sheet against The Bantams.

“We were very strong defensively,” he said. “The clean sheet is a positive but frustration was the overriding feeling in the dressing room after the game.

“I felt that we controlled the first half and restricted them to very few chances. They dropped deeper as a team after the break, but we couldn’t find those gaps that we had done earlier in the game.

“Bradford are a good team and were tough to play against, probably tougher than people realise. We just couldn’t get that all-important goal.

“Now we get ready to go again on Tuesday against Yeovil. They will be tough opponents as they are just out of The Championship.

“It will be a different kind of test for us, but one that we are ready for. It’s been a decent start and we’ve proved to be a difficult side to play against in these opening games.

“We just want to get that first League win on the board. Maybe we have to look at different ways to open teams up.”

Holden was full of praise for Liam Kinsella, who made his debut in the right-back berth, something that Holden himself had done 15 years ago.

“Liam was in there on merit and had an outstanding afternoon,” he added. “He’s an all-action, 100% player and the lads love him to bits.

“He’s a level-headed lad who’ll take this in his stride and continue to work hard.”