Saddlers held by Swindon...
Walsall head coach Jon Whitney believes his side’s 1-1 home draw with Swindon was “a point gained” rather than two lost.The Saddlers fell behind on 59 minutes when Michael Doughty profited on a ricochet to fire through the legs of home keeper Neil Etheridge.
But substitute Kieron Morris rescued Walsall a point 19 minutes from time, with a cool placed finish after a fine run.
The result means Whitney’s men remain third in League One, three points behind second-placed Burton - who also drew 1-1 against leaders Wigan – with a game in hand.
“It’s a point gained,” said Whitney afterwards. “If Swindon had played with that intensity all season they’d be pushing for the play-offs.
“That was the form they had when (manager) Luke Williams first took over but for some reason they’ve dropped off.
“Their goal was fortuitous but on the grand scheme of things, a draw was a fair result. They won the first half but we probably controlled the second half.
“It was a good test for my players, a really good tactical game but I’m more than pleased with the point because it gives us a bit of momentum heading into the weekend.”
Swindon entered the match in poor form, having lost five of their previous six games, including three in a row.
But the Robins produced an impressive display against the Saddlers – and Whitney says he always knew they would pose a tough test.
“We’re never going to have every game our own way,” Whitney added. “I said to the coaches that tonight would be the toughest game of the three (Gillingham, Southend and Swindon).
“I’d watched them a few times and I knew they weren’t going to keep losing. At some time they’re going to turn a performance around because they need one win.
“They put in a really good performance, put bodies on the line but so did my boys. Sometimes we had to dig in and we pressed them a bit higher in the second half. It was a true test.
“They were a threat on the break and I’m pleased with a point.
“Of course I would have liked a win with Wigan and Burton drawing but it’s not an ideal world and we had no divine right to beat Swindon.
“But to come out of the last three games with seven points is really good.”