Sean O'Driscoll: Walsall saw it through

Walsall head coach Sean O'Driscoll praised his players for their performance with and without the ball following their dramatic 3-2 win at Bury.

A Chris Hussey own goal together with strikes from Tom Bradshaw and Anthony Forde saw the Saddlers romp into a 3-0 lead at a snow-swept Gigg Lane.

But two Leon Clarke goals in the space of a minute threatened to turn the game on its head in a pulsating second-half.

Yet the Saddlers held firm to secure a crucial three points and move back into the automatic promotion spots in League One.

O'Driscoll said: "I thought it was an exciting first-half for us. They (Bury) were 3-0 down at home at half-time and they had to change things.

"They put on a striker and, with the conditions, just got the ball forward.

"We would have liked to have kept a clean sheet but, credit to them, they stuck the ball in dangerous areas and made it difficult to defend. But we are not beating ourselves up about it.

"I thought we probably played too well in the first-half. But I am delighted with the way we played with ball in the first half and without the ball in the second-half."

O'Driscoll believed the conditions played a big part in Bury getting back in the game and felt his side deserved huge credit for the way they defended for the last 20 minutes.

He continued: "You look at the conditions - they are a football team but they have decided to go back to front.

"When we were in possession I thought we created opportunities all afternoon. When it was 3-2, I thought we'd get a fourth one.

"But credit to them, it was never as if we were hanging in there. We were defending deep because every chance they got it they put it in the box. I thought we were nice and composed."

Before kick-off it was announced George Evans had been recalled from his loan by Manchester City with the midfielder now set to join a Championship club.

But Evans couldn't keep away and watched the game in the stands with the Saddlers fans. O'Driscoll added: "It was almost inevitable he would leave.

"There have been three or four Championship clubs who have made approaches for George. But he came here and saw the lads today."