Walsall draw was a fair result says Jon Whitney
Walsall boss Jon Whitney felt a point apiece was fair as his side played out a 1-1 draw with Oxford.
Record signing Andreas Makris had the Banks's Stadium rocking when he opened his account for the Saddlers with spectacular half-volley shortly after half-time.
But Michael Appleton's U's hit-back with a strike from Chris Maguire taking a huge deflection off James O'Connor before nestling into the net.
Walsall had more than deserved their lead but Oxford finished the game strong after hauling themselves level.
And Whitney felt overall a draw was the right result.
"It was a fair result - we will both be happy with a point," the boss said.
"The way they finished the game, Michael Appleton probably thought they could have sneaked one.
"Their goal was a bit fortuitous but I think with the effort they put in, you make your own luck.
"I thought we might have gone on and got a second but they were always going to get 10-15 minutes where they put us under pressure.
"But I thought the first half, that was how I want my team to be. The energy, some of the football that we played.We were really effective, limited their touches, broke really well and could have scored two, three goals.
"First half, I thought we were the better team. They could not live with us. Second half I thought they were so a point is a fair result."
Whitney was also full of praise Makris with the striker having waited nine months to net his first goal for the club.
"I think it was important he had a run of games," the boss continued.
"I knew he was ready a couple of weeks ago. I could sense it in him when he came back from the international break.
"He was unlucky last week at Bradford and he's worked really hard before his goal today.
"I thought he occupied them first half and ran the channels really well. He made his own goal and that was his reward. Hopefully, for all of us, it's the first of many.
"Credit to the kid. I think that the relief and outlet of pressure sucked the life out of him – I thought he was dead on his legs after that and he's just told me that now.
"Imagine all the criticism he's had – you don't carried away by one goal but you can understand why that just drained him after he got that goal. So we had to change him.
"But it was just a matter of time for the kid to get settled and get his goal. And it was a great goal, not just a tap-in. It was a really good goal."
