Walsall up to second after beating Bury...
Walsall head coach Sean O’Driscoll was “delighted” with his side’s performance in the thrilling 3-2 victory at Bury.The Saddlers led 3-0 at the break, courtesy of Chris Hussey’s own goal, Tom Bradshaw’s composed finish and Anthony Forde’s solo effort.
Leon Clarke's quick-fire second-half double gave Bury hope but Walsall stood firm to secure victory and move up to second in League One.
“I thought it was an exciting first-half for us,” said O’Driscoll, who has won five of his seven matches at the helm.
“Being 3-0 down at half-time at home, they put on another striker and, with the conditions, they just got the ball forward.
“We would have liked to have kept a clean sheet but credit to them, they stick the ball in dangerous areas and it’s difficult to defend.
“But we’re not beating ourselves up about it.
“I was delighted with the way we played first-half with the ball, and delighted with the way we played without the ball in the second half.”
O’Driscoll reverted to a 4-4-1-1 formation for the trip to Gigg Lane, with Andy Taylor being deployed at left-back and Rico Henry in left midfield.
“I felt their full-backs might give us some problems, a bit like Rochdale, so we decided to play a flatter formation and go back to what the team has been used to,” O’Driscoll added.
“It gave young Rico the taste of playing one up, where he could concentrate on getting forward rather than having to defend.
“And they’re a big team, so we needed another header in the team.
“One of the reasons Tayls comes back in at left back is because he’s decent in the air and we’re not the biggest team in the world.
“Our defending from set plays was good and our goalkeeper, once again, was magnificent.
“At the moment I don’t think you can say we’ve got a best 11, we’ve got a best 18.”
The Saddlers are back at the Banks’s this weekend when we face Neil McDonald’s Blackpool.