No celebrations as Walsall have set higher standards

Walsall boss Mat Sadler said his promotion-chasing side have set such high standards that there were no dressing-room celebrations despite rescuing a last-gasp 2-2 draw against Bromley.

Centre-back David Okagbue’s close-range finish from a 94th-minute corner kept the second-placed Saddlers within three points of leaders Port Vale.

Walsall led at half-time through Liam Gordon’s fine finish on the counter but Michael Cheek’s ninth goal of the season and Danny Imray’s thunderbolt turned the game in Bromley’s favour until Okagbue’s late intervention.

“When I went into the dressing room, it was deathly silent – and maybe you wouldn’t expect that because we’ve just had a last-minute equaliser,” Sadler said.

“That’s because the group have set their standards.

“It was a horrible Tuesday night game so to come through it with a point in the manner we did, I can’t help but be pleased with the heart and desire the lads showed.

“Mentality-wise, we have some courage about us to not feel sorry about ourselves, to keep believing. The group deserve their little bits of luck because they give everything every day.

“I think we’ve scored the most second-half goals in the division which shows our fitness and desire to keep going. It’s never in our make-up to give up.

“Today was important that we didn’t lose and the more I reflect on it, despite being disappointed that we didn’t win, I think I’ll be really proud we made sure we didn’t lose that game.”

Bromley boss Andy Woodman lamented another late equaliser after conceding to Carlisle in their previous game but the Football League new boys inched four points clear of trouble.

“We’re just not getting the rub of the green at the moment,” Woodman said. “But it was a point a lot of people probably didn’t have us down for.

“It was a really good performance, we battled, we scrapped, played some good football, we limited a team that has been scoring goals for fun to very few chances.

“We had it in our grasp but we have to accept sometimes these things happen even though it’s not nice. They were chucking everything at it, the ball ricocheted and fell to them.

“That can happen. It’s heartbreaking but there were a lot of positives. We were certainly good for the point, if not three. Walsall will be thinking they’ve got away with it a bit.

“We’ve just to got be a bit more clinical and decisive. It’s one loss in nine in the league – it’s another draw but we’ll be all right.

“We knew it was going to be a bumpy road, a tougher season than we’ve had and we weren’t going to get everything our own way but it was a good point.”