Midfielder scored the Saddlers' match-winner against Millwall...
Franck Moussa was “delighted” to break his Walsall duck in the victory over Millwall and admitted it was also a weight off his shoulders.The 27-year-old was recalled to the Saddlers’ starting line-up and provided the assist for Simeon Jackson’s 17th-minute opener with a knock-down from Kieron Morris’ cross.
Fred Onyedinma headed Millwall level five minutes later, but Moussa secured victory for the home side early in the second-half when he tapped in from close-range.
It was the Belgian midfielder’s first goal in nine outings for Walsall – although only five of those have been starts – and he revealed it came as a relief.
“I was delighted to score and I felt it was a bit of pressure off my back,” said Moussa.
“I’m desperate to do well for this club and to score my first goal in front of the home fans was something I will cherish.
“As an attacking player, I feel I need to contribute to the attacking play of the team and I’m at a stage now where I am really looking to kick on.
“Scoring a goal as well, I’m raring to go for the next game, with confidence and a desire to do well again.
“It was a good thing the team won because every player who played in this game will be looking to perform again and those who didn’t play will be looking to emulate the same kind of performance if called upon.”
Moussa felt there were plenty of positives Walsall could take from the performance, particularly the way his team "pulled together" after Tuesday’s disappointment against Scunthorpe.
“After Scunthorpe we just wanted to have a good reaction and we owed that to ourselves and the supporters,” he said.
“Thankfully the Millwall game came quite quickly afterwards and we were able to show that we want to do well for this club as individuals and as a team.
“There were a lot of good individual performances and if as individuals we can all up our game and do our best then we can definitely help the team.
“We were playing against a team that played quite a few long balls and we had to be resilient at the back and make sure we didn’t concede too much.
“We pulled together and even when they equalised we found enough within ourselves to pull together and win the game in the end.”
The Saddlers take on Sheffield United tonight in the Checkatrade Trophy and Moussa has called for consistency.
“The players are starting to see what works and what doesn’t, and we’re looking at how we can stay consistent,” Moussa commented.
“Results like Bolton and Millwall, they need to be something we can do consistently and we need to find a formula to help us to do that.”