Walsall striker Danny Johnson was pleased to get back on the scoresheet and help the team secure three points against Crawley Town.
The Saddlers continued their fine home form as they edged past a resilient, ten-man Crawley side at the Poundland Bescot Stadium to make it five consecutive home league wins for the first time since 2017.
Johnson has made it ten league goals for the season already, the joint third best in the division, but revealed after the game that it hasn’t been straight forward for him in recent weeks and that grabbing the winner was a weight off of his shoulders.
“Personally I’ve been harsh on myself in the last few weeks, wanting a few more goals," he said.
“I’ve maybe not had the chances and I thought it’s just going to be one of those days again and that’s probably added to the emotion at the end to get that winner."
Remarkably, all but one of Johnson’s league goals for the club since arriving from Mansfield Town in the summer have come at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, something the striker is unable to explain, adding his eagerness to mirror his home scoring form in away matches.
“I’m obviously enjoying my football and there’s something about this ground where the ball just goes in the net,” he remarked.
“I need to start adding a few more [goals] away from home, but I’m delighted to get another goal and send the fans home happy.
“I’ve been frustrated at myself the past few weeks, there’s not been many chances to put the ball in the back of the net and keep ticking over.
“But [I’m] back amongst the goals and I hit a little milestone that I had set myself, so [hopefully I can] keep playing and keep scoring.
In the 39th minute, Johnson was bought down by Crawley defender Ludwig Francillette, resulting in a second yellow card and giving Walsall the man advantage for much of the contest. Johnson explained the secret behind Walsall’s impressive winning streak at home and how the side reacted to the early sending off.
“We make it difficult for teams coming here, the fans get right behind us," he commented.
“I thought [Saturday] was going to be difficult when they went down to ten men, they camped in and tried to counter, but we got the win in the end.”
The goal eventually came in the second minute of additional stoppage time, a long goal kick controlled well by Isaac Hutchinson who wormed past several white shirts before cutting back a dangerous ball that Johnson turned home.
“Unbelievable,” Johnson replied when asked his emotions at seeing the net bulge.
“Throughout the game I was just thinking, ‘it’s not quite falling for me,’ but [Hutchinson] has put the ball in the box, it’s taken a little deflection on the way through and I just steadied myself, touch and got my finish away,” he concluded.
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