Saddlers' Smith: Stunning win justified my changes
Boss Dean Smith felt his changes had been justified after Saddlers' stunning 3-0 win at League One high-flyers MK Dons.
Smith freshened things up by bringing in full-backs James O'Connor and Andy Taylor into the side in place of Ben Purkiss and Rico Henry.
The Saddlers have found goals difficult to come by this season but another shut-out yesterday takes their clean sheet total up to 10.
Smith said: "Jim's been chomping at the bit to get back in the team and Ben Purkiss has kept him out with good performances.
"I just felt it was right to put Jim in after the defeat on Friday. Ben has done excellently but Jim came in and did a fantastic job.
"And Young Rico as well, he's been possibly our best player in the last couple of games but he's only just turned 17. He's an excellent exciting prospect for us but it was time to give him a rest.
"Andy Taylor's come through really well. We know he's very reliable and he put in a really good performance against Carl Baker's who's a really good player, ex-Coventry, and Taylor's done well."
Smith has been also been left delighted by the outcome of his side's festive run of games after ending the year on a high with a win at Stadium MK.
The Saddlers have taken points off Peterborough, Notts County and Sheffield United in recent weeks and have conceded just 17 league goals all season.
"I think it's just reward for the players because we didn't deserve 4-1 on Friday against Swindon," said Smith.
"And I think if somebody offered me four points out of the three games – Sheffield United away, Swindon at home and MK Dons – you'd have probably taken it.
"Well it's better than drawing all three games, you get more points and more excitement by winning at a place like MK Dons."
