Interim Walsall boss Darren Byfield sought to praise his side as they showed plenty of resilience as they held third-placed Cambridge United to a goalless draw on Tuesday evening.
The match was far from a classic encounter, as the Saddlers managed to secure the game's only shot on target in what was a strong evening for defenders.
Byfield, who guided the team to their first win in four at the weekend with a comfortable win over Crewe Alexandra, admitted the visitors shaded the first part of the game, but the Saddlers grew into the contest, he said: "I thought first half they shaded it, and then we came into it probably in the last five or ten minutes.
"We had to stand up to it, and we understand that we're not going to get the ball down and play when these Cambridge boys are so good at second balls.
"But in the second half, I thought we were the team that was going to win it and looked like the team that was going to go on and do so.
"It didn't happen, but all we can do is keep putting in that effort, that work rate and try to ask questions of the opposition.
"When you do that, the fans see what you're trying to do, and they appreciate it."
Quotes: Express & Star.