Walsall Head Coach Matt Taylor praised the impact of Otis Khan and his team’s performance after a convincing win over Colchester United.
The 26-year-old scored a first-half brace before Jack Earing put the game beyond doubt in the second period as the Saddlers returned to winning ways at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday.
Taylor was pleased with the way his side navigated their way through the game. He also feels Khan has been rewarded for his patience and taking the opportunities he’s been given.
“Otis has had to be patient,” Taylor said.
“It’s probably taken him longer than he would have wanted to get into the team but his performances when he’s come off the bench have been excellent and that's why he started the game.
“We made four changes and I think all four of those players have come in and done extremely well. What it does is it gives me selection problems which I’m really happy about.
“If you look at our players, they controlled the game when they needed to with the ball, we probably played mixed football better than we have done in a while and that’s what I’ve been asking for for a long period of time.
"As ever, it’s great – we got three points but that’s all it is and we’ve got to move on quickly to Swindon Town.”
The Saddlers were without the likes of skipper Joss Labadie, Conor Wilkinson and Manny Monthé and Taylor confirmed they were missing through injury.
The Saddlers Head Coach was encouraged with the players who deputised on the day and insists every team in the division will have similar issues
“Unfortunately, it’s part and parcel of the game,” Taylor commented.
“We’re now on the back of a six-week period where I think we’ve had 9-10 games and that takes its toll.
“You look at every team in our league and they’ll all be the same, I’m not going to stand here and say we have injuries and that affects performances, it shouldn’t do and it didn’t do because the players who had an opportunity came in and did their jobs so it’s really pleasing.
“Happy that we’ve got three points. It should have been two home wins in a row but I’ll take one.”
Watch more: