Walsall boss hails 'top notch' debutant

Manager Dean Smith hailed 'top notch' debutant George Evans as Walsall maintained their unbeaten away record in League One with victory at Barnsley.

Goals from Evans and ex-Tyke Milan Lalkovic, both in the second-half, wrapped up an impressive 2-0 victory at Oakwell tonight.

The result means the soaring Saddlers have won five and drawn two from their seven away fixtures in League One.

And Smith is delighted with the record, saying: "It's a great record and the players deserve it because they have been excellent.

"But If I'm being really picky it could be six wins because we should have won at Peterborough. It's deserved though because we have played well.

"We were outstanding in the second-half. We played some really good football."

Smith revealed goalscorer Evans only met his team-mates for the first time as they set off for Yorkshire.

The Walsall boss said: "I thought George looked top notch. He is a really good footballer and is someone we have been keeping tabs on for a while.

"He only got the in building on the day of the game and he met the lads for the first time when he got on the coach.

"But he knows us well because we had Ellis Plummer from Manchester City training with us and Jordy Hiwula on loan last season as well."

Smith also confirmed he had always earmarked fellow goalscorer Lalkovic for the game, after he snapped up the forward from Barnsley in the summer.

But his selection was made fairly simple with Neil Etheridge, James O'Connor, Andy Taylor and Sam Mantom all ruled out through injury.

He added: "Milan was always pencilled in for the game. I think players coming back to old clubs always seem to do well. He got that goal which he has been searching for.

"But I was pleased with all of them. It just shows you all the players are ready to come in and play."