"Hardest decisions" - Lee Grant makes Walsall midfield admission after Exeter draw

Lee Grant says picking his Walsall midfield is one of his “hardest decisions” at the moment.

Isaac Moore and Charlie Crew partnered each other in the double pivot, while Huddersfield Town loanee Antony Evans started in the No 10 role on his debut during the Saddlers’ goalless draw at Exeter City on Saturday.

Sven Sprangler had started every game for Walsall in the league prior to their trip to Devon, but Grant insists that he has full trust in Crew and Moore, who are both just 20-years-old, to play alongside each other.

“Why not trust them both? They’re good players - really good players,” head coach Grant said.

“One of my hardest decisions every week is my midfield three, because I play with two and I’ve got three that haven’t let me down once in any facet in terms of the things I’m asking for.”

Walsall extended their unbeaten start in the league to five games and kept their fifth clean sheet in seven matches across all competitions at St James Park.

Grant has previously opted for either Andrew Dallas or Tai Sodje as the second striker, but decided to deploy Evans to play in behind in-form centre-forward Aaron Pressley.

Moore has started three of the Saddlers’ opening five games in League Two and Crew has now started back-to-back league matches.

He added: “They can run for days and days, they’re all intent to learn and work. They’re great teammates, so why not trust Charlie and Isaac today?

“I thought they were really good and it was nice for them [and] nice for me to see them learn and apply some of those dark arts as well, which Sven does so fantastically well.

“Pleased for them both and I’m pretty certain it’ll be another difficult decision for me next week.”