Jon Whitney happy with Andreas Makris despite wait for goal

Walsall broke their 37-year-old transfer record in August to sign the Cypriot international for an undisclosed fee that surpassed the £175,000 they paid Blues for all-time record scorer Alan Buckley in 1979.

Although Makris is yet to find the net for Walsall in 14 appearances, he struck the crossbar during Saturday's 2-0 victory at Swindon Town and impressed Whitney with his all-round display.

"He's hit the bar three times now and he won't come any closer than he did at Swindon without scoring," said the boss.

"But I said to him before the game, don't worry about scoring a goal. The target wasn't for him to score it was for him to occupy the two centre-halves.

"I think Conor Thomas controlled the game for Swindon when they beat Rochdale. But we set traps. And our press worked really well.

"But his energy was so impressive. I knew he would get around and stop them from having a passage of play.

"It would have been nice for him to get his goal. But he applies himself really well. And I think after his performance at Gillingham he deserved another start because of the work he put in.

"He is an honest, hard-working lad."

Whitney was also full of praise for his side's defensive midfield shield.

Joe Edwards partnered Adam Chambers in the middle as they earned their first away win in League One this season.

"I don't think there is a duo in this league who have got the energy of Adam and Joe," said Whitney. "Adam seems to have a new lease of life now because they are sharing the work load.

"That is what we want from the players. If the two centre-forwards can share the work load, the two midfielders, the two centre-halves and the full-backs and wingers covering each other.

"They are the ingredients for a successful team.

"We are getting much better now at knowing when to play it forward, when to keep it and when just to frustrate the opposition."