Jon Whitney hails one of the best Walsall performances in his memory

Goals from Amadou Bakayoko, Jason McCarthy, Joe Edwards and an Erhun Oztumer penalty saw the Saddlers run riot in a 4-1 victory at the Banks's Stadium

Whitney is enjoying his first full season as Walsall manager after previously working as the club's physio, head of medicine and assistant manager.

But he felt Walsall's victory against the Blades was one of the best he has seen at the Banks's Stadium.

"I think that was one of the best performances we have had in my time at the club – and that is 13 years," he said.

"That is no exaggerating. Sheffield United are a good, good team. You have to do you home work on them and you have to nullify their threats.

"You have got get your game plan right but huge credit to the players because the stuff we have worked on – you can see it transition from the training ground onto the pitch.

"That shows how bright they are. But it took a hell of shift. They had to sacrifice and run every blade of grass. The intensity was fantastic."

Sheffield United arrived in the West Midlands sitting top of League One and having won each of their last six games.

But Whitney decided to match their 3-5-2 formation with the boss believing every one of his players performed at either an eight or nine out of 10.

"Huge credit to my players," Whitney continued.

"They executed the game plan to a tee. As a manager it's a rare occurrence when you get every player either an eight or a nine out of 10.

"You have to be eight or nine out of 10 to beat them. They have lost just once in their last 22 games and that was us beating them as well.

"They have looked dominant. But I still believed and I said to my players we will match them up because I still believe we have got more energy than them.

"I thought second half in particular we dominated the game. We rolled them over.

"Away from home when we beat them it was a bit fortuitous. But I thought today we thoroughly deserved the win against the team top of the table."