Walsall First Team Coach Mat Sadler was pleased with how the team responded to the set back against Stockport County after picking up a fine victory over Mansfield Town on New Year’s Day.
Douglas James-Taylor and Liam Kinsella scored either side of half-time as the Saddlers climbed up to ninth in the Sky Bet League Two table.
With attention now turning to the Emirates FA Cup, where Michael Flynn’s side will travel to recent opponents Stockport, Sadler was delighted the players can head into a break from league action on the back of a victory and was pleased that the players showed all their qualities to bounce back after a disappointing defeat.
“We spoke about that after Stockport, runs always come to an end at any level, especially in League One and League Two where anyone can beat anyone, so maintaining that consistency is massive,” Sadler said.
“For us to go and perform the way we did in spells was testament to the lads, they showed every single side to them that they’re going to need to show to win football matches and they showed that.
“The lads themselves spoke about being desperate to start a new run or another set of good results so as disappointed as they all were following Thursday night, they’ve put that right and then we go on and look forward to the game on Sunday now, a little bit of a break in the league and they do that on the back of a win so there’s no better way to go into that game.”
Sunday’s victory saw defender Oisin McEntee make his full debut for the Saddlers after spending the majority of the first half of the season on the sidelines with a shoulder injury before making his comeback with a brief cameo off the bench away at Wycombe Wanderers back in November.
The 21-year-old got 90 minutes under his belt on New Year's Day and Sadler was full of praise for the Irishman after his full debut.
“I thought Oisin coming in for his first start, and it’s a tough baptism of fire against Mansfield, so tough game for him, there were some fantastic blocks, some fantastic defensive awareness that he’s capable of and he’s been champing at the bit to get some game time so I’m pleased for him and I think he acquitted himself well,” Sadler commented.
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