Jon Whitney delighted with win as Walsall finish top of Checkatrade group

A 1-0 victory over Leicester under-21s ensured it was the Saddlers who finished on top of Northern Group H.

The result means Whitney's side have won all their three games in the competition and will now enjoy a home tie in the next round.

And the boss was particularly pleased with the reaction his players showed following Saturday's FA Cup loss to Macclesfield.

"The three wins are really pleasing but it's the manner of the performances I am really chuffed with," Whitney said.

"We looked at things after Saturday. It was the players themselves who highlighted where we went wrong and they have shown against Leicester how to keep the ball.

"It was a good Leicester team. It was a great spectacle and I didn't even notice there was a low attendance. I thought the fans that did travel lifted us.

"But the players just enjoyed playing and the energy they showed was fantastic. I think Josh Ginnelly just shaded it for my man of the match.

"But I thought our defensive shape and energy to limit their options was excellent. It was a fantastic effort from a young team and it shows the array of talent that we have."

Whitney felt the performance was a complete contrast to Saturday's disappointing display against the Silkmen,

"Saturday we became fragmented and we didn't play as a team," he added.

"When we don't play as a team we become very ordinary. But when we play as a team we can do special things and it's nice to bounce back with a win."