Mat Sadler's 'personal pride' after Walsall's draw at Birmingham
Mat Sadler said he felt personally "proud" after Walsall's 1-1 draw at League One outfit Birmingham City in their EFL Trophy opener on Tuesday night.
Ex-Blues defender Sadler returned to the place where his footballing journey started over two decades ago and oversaw a superb team display from the touchline at St Andrew's.
Fellow former Birmingham midfielder Charlie Lakin opened his goal scoring account for Walsall on 48 minutes, before defender Christoph Klarer equalised for Birmingham six minutes from time.
Second-choice goalkeeper Sam Hornby emerged as the hero in the shoot-out with a pair of penalty saves to earn Walsall the extra bonus point.
Sadler's parents watched on with pride up in the stands and the Walsall boss admitted it was a special moment for himself personally and his family to put on that type of performance at the home of his boyhood club.
He said: "Yes it is (a proud moment personally). I can't deny that. I've seen my mum and dad just up there and for them it's a nice moment.
"So for me, it's lovely that I've given them that."
From a wider sense, Sadler also feels that things are "changing" at Walsall and that everyone in football is starting to take notice of the direction the club are heading in.
"The place is changing, I think we all see that and everyone in football is starting to take note of this football club," he continued.
"Over the next few years, we'll see that even more so we knew that we had to be really organised and disciplined then when our chances came we had to take them.
"Barring playing in the final, there aren't many games in this tournament that would be like tonight (Tuesday).
"So for us to come out the right side of it, albeit on penalties in the end was a really good thing."
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