Walsall boss Mat Sadler has praised his team's response after they bounced back from gong a goal down to secure a share of the spoils against Forest Gren Rovers on Tuesday evening.
Looking to rebound from last weekend's dismal defeat to Sutton United in the league, the Saddlers moved on to EFL Trophy action and faced the now bottom-of-League Two side Forest Green Rovers in Southern Group A of the competition.
The match was something of a slow burner with the first goal not arriving until six-minutes into the second half as Tyrese Omotoye prodded the ball home following a well-placed cross.
After seeing Ross Tierney denied by Jamie Searle from the spot, the Saddlers were ultimately able to level the scores midway through the second forty-five as Isaac Hutchinson netted his third goal of the campaign.
Speaking to the assembled media, including the Express & Star, Sadler said; "It was good to see such a positive second-half performance, and a response from Saturday albeit with a different XI.
"We hurt after Saturday a hell of a lot and now need to take that into the game on the weekend against Gillingham."
Though they failed to score in the first half, Sadler was pleased to see his team able to hold its shape and thwart their opponent's advances, with the gaffer pushing his team to impose itself on their opponents during his half-time team talk.
Mat continued; "For forty-five minutes, we maintained a good shape, but didn't impose ourselves on the game enough.
"I said to Douglas at half-time, you've waited a good length of time to be knocking on my door to play in the first team, show me what you are about.
"Don't just be in a shape, affect the game from within your shape. I offered that out to the rest of the lads. We look like we are working, but not doing that final bit, that ugly final bit, and really stamping our authority on the game.
"Then I thought the second half was a completely different us. We looked front foot, we looked like we had that real energy, determination, and mentality to really get after them, and we did that."
It wasn't all positive for the Reds, however, as they were denied a post-match bonus point as Forest Green won the subsequent penalty shoot-out by four-goals-to-two as Ryan Stirk and Danny Johnson were denied from the spot.