Jon Whitney happy with Walsall point
Boss Jon Whitney insisted he was happy with a point despite seeing two penalty decisions going against his side in the 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers.
An entertaining clash at the Memorial Stadium saw the Saddlers race into a deserved first-half lead when Erhun Oztumer curled home from 20-yards.
But just two minutes later, referee Brendan Malone sparked controversy when he failed to give Whitney's men a spot-kick despite Simeon Jackson being clearly tripped in the box.
To rub salt into the wound, Malone then awarded the home side a penalty when Adam Chambers tripped Billy Bodin – a foul Whitney felt occurred outside the penalty area.
"I think a point was a fair result – especially after our first half performance," Whitney said.
"The desire was there from both sides. They put us under a lot of pressure in the second half so I think a point is fair.
"But I think we should have gone two-goals up in the first half. It was a blatant penalty and a really poor decision.
"That could have changed the game and at the moment those decisions are going against us because Adam's was out the box as well.
"Overall though, a point was a fair result so I am happy."
Oztumer's strike was the Saddlers first goal away from the Banks's Stadium this season.
And Whitney was delighted with the creative schemer who was asked to fill a slightly deeper role in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
"It was a great goal and that is what the little man is all about," the boss continued.
"I thought he was our talisman first half. He dictated play really well. But he also does the other side of the game really well – the defensive side.
"He is starting to take up some really good positions when we are not in control.
"I thought Bristol Rovers did really well at times, they changed the formation from Saturday and put us under pressure.
"But we are a young side. I thought they put our centre-halves under a lot of pressure. But we need to learn to not give them the ball back so quickly because then you come under more pressure.
"But we are learning, and it's nice to be able to learn with a 1-1 because I thought some of our attacking play was excellent."
