Defender scored on his full league debut...
Young defender Matt Preston was pleased to make his full league debut against Chesterfield - and hopes it will be the first of many starts for the Club.With James O’Connor injured, 20-year-old Preston was drafted into the Saddlers’ senior starting XI for the first time in a league match.
He capped a solid defensive display with his first career goal – Walsall’s consolation in a surprise 2-1 home defeat.
And although frustrated with the result, Preston was satisfied with his own performance.
"It was great to a get a first start and nice to get a goal, but I was disappointed about the result,” said Preston, who had previously made only two substitute league appearances.
"I was disappointed that I couldn’t really celebrate my goal because of the stage of the game.
"But I thought on the whole I did well. I’m never content with what I’ve done and there are areas where I can improve.
“I could have done better for the first goal; I’m used to playing in a back four and maybe I was too narrow and should have stayed a bit wider.
“But I’ll learn from this.
“I go to speak to the manager every now and again, and he says that I’m pushing the other centre-backs. It’s difficult to get in the side with the team’s defensive record.
“My targets are to play as many games as I can and stay injury free. Hopefully, the Chesterfield game was the first of many.”
The Saddlers are on the road to Barnsley this evening – and Preston is hoping they can quickly put the Chesterfield defeat behind them.
“It was disappointing to lose the game as we peppered them in both halves and their keeper pulled off some excellent saves,” said Preston.
“We were unfortunate. "We know we need to kick on again against Barnsley and try to get a win.
"Hopefully the frustration from today can spur us on to get a result."