Walsall boss Jon Whitney: We must take positives from Blackburn defeat

A brace from Danny Graham put Rovers into the ascendancy in an opening 45 minutes they dominated at the Banks’s Stadium.

But Jack Fitzwater gave the Saddlers hope with a goal in first-half stoppage time.

And then after the interval, Whitney’s men took control with Julien Ngoy, Erhun Oztumer and George Dobson all going close to what would have been a deserved equaliser.

“If you are going to take something from a game where you’ve ended up with a defeat, then you’ve got to take positives from the second half,” Whitney said.

“I thought we outplayed and outbattled a team who I think are the best team in the league.

“It would have been great if we could have got that equaliser but we’ve got to move forward with some confidence and use that as a bit of a benchmark.

“The energy in the second half here and the first half against Doncaster, that is where I see my team playing, that’s the kind of energy I see my team playing with.

“Some of the play and some of the one- and two-touch bounce passes to get out were fantastic.

“I thought young Maz Kouhyar, who came on, was really good. He played like a really experienced League One player and I was really pleased for the youngster.

“I know George (Dobson) got man of the match but I thought there were some good performances out there today. Julien (Ngoy) was a threat up top when he came on.

“I think we were a bit unfortunate not to get an equaliser.”

Whitney conceded his side showed title chasing Blackburn too much respect in the first-half.

“I thought in the first half we were a bit tentative,” the boss continued.

“We just didn’t do the basics as well as them. The pitch was very lively, I wasn’t expecting it to be that lively.

“I thought they got the first hits in. We did it against Doncaster last week and Blackburn did it to us.

“I think (Danny) Graham was a little bit unplayable for periods in that first half and that he showed why, for me, he is the best number nine in this league and could still play much higher.

“It was a good experience for our young team to play against him and Armstrong, who is a threat.

“We got the goal back, a bit similar to at their place, but the difference today was that we started the second half much better.

“We were the team that looked like we were in the ascendancy but we couldn’t get that second goal.

“It’s disappointment but I couldn’t fault the lads’ energy and effort today. I think Graham probably made the difference between the two teams.

“There were lots of positives and we’ve got to take them into Peterborough now on Tuesday.

“If we can pick up some points there, then suddenly the defeat doesn’t look as bad.”