Walsall boss Mat Sadler insisted his side had to be at their best as they overcame Accrington Stanly by three-goals-to-one at the Wham Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After playing out a goalless first-half, the match burst into life shorty after the hour mark when Aden Flint scored his first Walsall goal with a well-placed header.
The Saddlers doubled their lead via Aaron Pressley later in the half, before Charlie Caton put the home side on the scoresheet in second-half injury time.
Walsall reestablished their two-goal lead just moments later when Albert Adomah continued his stellar season with another strike at the death.
Speaking to the assembled media, Sadler said: "It was a really, really tough game. They’re brilliant at what they do, and I have complete respect for that.
"John has done a cracking job. You’re always in the game, you work for everything and the way they go about it, they make you feel like you’ve got less time than you have on the ball.
"It’s something that we spoke about at half-time, in particular, because we thought the way they do it, they push their two wing-backs on.
"We wanted to get the ball wide, that was our thing all day. It’s difficult because you feel like you haven’t got the time on the ball that you might have.
"That’s some of the stuff at half-time that we spoke about, and I suppose in a way that the ball opens up with a set play, wasn’t much between anybody, we had a couple of good chances, they had a couple of good chances and there wasn’t much between the two teams.
"Particularly pleased with that one, Aden scoring, and obviously we know he’s a powerhouse. Courtney coming on and being over the dead ball, we practiced that a lot.
"I thought Brandon brought an area of control when he came on for the great work that Lewis had done. Again, the impact of those finishers being seen.
"A tough game, and it is always tough, but delighted to come out the right side of it."
Quotes: Saddlers.co.uk