Jon Whitney: Walsall have an inner steel
Boss Jon Whitney believes Walsall have shown a new inner steel by securing victories against Gillingham and Southend.
The Saddlers, who can move up to second in League One with a win over Swindon tonight, have been criticised by supporters in the past for being too nice.
But, after slipping to back-to-back defeats against Sheffield United and Oldham, Whitney's side responded emphatically with two outstanding performances against Justin Edinburgh's Gills and Phil Brown's Shrimpers.
And the interim boss believes those results prove they have the fight needed to win a place in the Championship.
Whitney said: "There's an inner steel to us now and it's something we work very hard on. In training, we spend a lot of time making sure we never switch off.
"Even when we are enjoying a sustained period of play, we cannot be spectators at the back. You see a lot of teams get caught out like that but we are so engaged.
"What's pleasing for me is that we're known as a footballing club. But people can't underestimate the fact we can be physical with any team as well."
Two players whose battling qualities have particularly shone in recent weeks are centre-back Matt Pennington and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Pennington arrived on loan from Premier League outfit Everton last month, with Etheridge enjoying an outstanding season since joining on a free transfer in the summer.
Whitney admits he has been delighted with the duo, saying: "We knew Southend would be a handful and that they would play direct through Tyrone Barnett.
"But I thought Matty Pennington handled him fantastically well and showed great maturity. You can see why Everton think so highly of him.
"He's a winner and has actually brought even more enthusiasm to the team. That's why we've accepted him because it's like he's always been our player."
On Philippines international Etheridge, Whitney added: "He's made some fantastic saves this season and he did it again right at the end against Southend.
"That is what he can do. For 88 minutes of the game, he didn't have a save to make.
"But that's why he's the goalkeeper he is – because when he's called upon, he's always focused and ready."
