Jon Whitney hails Walsall for late victory
Interim boss Jon Whitney hailed the in-game management of his players after Walsall the most dramatic of victories against rock-bottom Colchester.
Entering the final stages of game trailing to an Alex Gilbey goal, Tom Bradshaw got the Saddlers level when he smashed home in the 89
minute after being teed up by Matt Preston.
And the drama continued into stoppage time with hero Preston then getting on the score sheet himself when he fired home from a corner.
The young centre-half was only on the field because James O'Connor was forced to come off with a calf injury
And Whitney revealed afterwards it was Paul Downing, Jason Demetriou and Romaine Sawyers to told the 21-year-old to operate as a make-shift centre-forward.
He beamed: "I didn't tell the players to put Matty up front – that is there self-management. When you are behind you have to do things differently.
"We know we have played better. We will look at that any analyse that. But you just have to keep believing.
"The way the lads have worked and all the changes they have had to put up with this season – they deserve it.
"Over the course of a season luck evens itself out and I think we got a bit of luck today.
"It's credit to the players, staff and fans. The last 10 minutes the atmosphere was exactly how I want it to be. It was a fantastic feeling to win the game."
Whitney also praised Colchester adding he believes they are a much better side than their position in League One suggest.
He said: "You can't underestimate Colchester – they are not a bad team and they have got some players that will play Championship next year.
"We knew it would be tough. We knew they wouldn't give us many opportunities and we knew they would be dangerous on the counter.
"I feel for Kevin because it was a good performance from them, a really good performance. But I am going to take the win."
