Pete Wild hails battling display as Fleetwood clinch double over Walsall

Fleetwood manager Pete Wild was delighted with the application his side showed as they ran out 2-0 winners over League Two leaders Walsall.

First-half headed goals from defenders Shaun Rooney and James Bolton saw Town complete a league double over the Saddlers.

Wild said: “I’m really pleased. Really pleased with how we started the game and really pleased with the overall application of the players.

“On Saturday (the defeat to Carlisle) we were a 45-minute team and I challenged the players to make sure we put in a performance that showed what we can do for the full game and I felt we did that.

“I felt we did that ugly side of the game really well and if we can keep doing that then we can start picking up even more points and ultimately win a lot more than we lose.”

Wild also paid tribute to his squad as he made a whole host of changes following Saturday’s surprise home defeat to struggling Carlisle.

He said: “We as staff discussed yesterday how we could bring impetus into this game and with five games in (15) days we felt that making changes to the team would revitalise us a bit and it did.

“We’ve got lads chomping at the bit and waiting for an opportunity to start and I said to those players to go and show me what they’re about. I felt all of them did that tonight and showed it in abundance which only bodes well going forward.”

Walsall boss Mat Sadler was keen to play down any worries over a potential collapse in form.

The league leaders have now lost back-to-back matches for the first time this season but Sadler, although disappointed with his side’s performance, tried to keep upbeat.

“Yeah, it’s two defeats in two, but is what it is,” he said.

“The pitch was horrible and there wasn’t really a lot of quality football played from either side so you have to roll your sleeves up, which is something we pride ourselves on and something we are good at – but today we weren’t and we’ve got to get back to being that.

“Second half I felt that we came out with a real intent to try and win the game and gave it a go but unfortunately we couldn’t knock the door down, especially in the first 20 or 25 minutes of the half.

“It wasn’t to be for us today, which is frustrating, but we have to dust ourselves down and go again.

“I always say to the players don’t get too high when you win and too low when you lose, and that’s how it has to be. If anyone out there thought that this would be a straight run once we hit the top and opened up that gap then they’re mistaken because it wasn’t ever going to be.

“We are a team on a journey and we will now look forward to our next game on Saturday and do our best to respond like I know we can and have shown throughout the season.”