Sean O'Driscoll: Walsall have made their point

Manager Sean O'Driscoll believes Walsall will see a long-term benefit for keeping hold of their key players in the transfer window.

Tom Bradshaw, Rico Henry and Romaine Sawyers were all linked with big money moves away from the Banks's Stadium last month.

But the Saddlers board stuck to their guns and refused to sell the trio, with their aim to give O'Driscoll the best possible chance to win promotion to the Championship.

And the 58-year-old believes it's important other teams know Walsall are not a club who are happy to cash in.

He said: "In the past other teams have seen Walsall as a bit of an easy target – that if you offer them something they will take it because they need the money.

"I think the message has got across and that will stand them in good stead.

"We have got talented players and nobody minds them going on and doing better in their careers but the going rate in football is the going rate.

"I'm pleased for the chairman, he has had this before and he was adamant nobody was going to go."

O'Driscoll was always confident nobody would leave, with all the players keen to stay to continue the promotion push.

He continued: "Unless somebody came in with something ridiculous – which can happen sometimes in football – I couldn't see anybody going.

"I don't think anybody really wanted to go if I'm honest. They've played here and I think they want to finish the job."

Meanwhile, the Saddlers boss admitted he was delighted to see his side score with a well-worked corner routine for the second goal in Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Doncaster.

It resulted in Romaine Sawyers' low cross being only half cleared as far as Andy Taylor, who kept his composure to fire home from eight yards.

O'Driscoll said: "That goal was really good because I keep banging on to them about trying to do something different from corners.

"When we sling the ball into the box we've only got two or three really good headers of the ball and they are usually tightly marked.

"So it was nice to get something that was a bit more off the cuff and creative."