Andy Taylor: Walsall have tested their mettle

An outstanding first-half performance saw the Saddlers romp into a 3-0 lead at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

That was only for the game to then turn on its head when Leon Clarke scored twice inside a minute midway through the second-half.

But despite the Shakers suddenly having the wind in their sails, as well as a passionate home crowd behind them, Sean O'Driscoll's side dug deep to prevent them completing their comeback.

And Taylor believes halting that momentum is something all Walsall's players should be proud off.

The full-back said: "When a team is fighting to get back into a game and has momentum like that, it's very rare they are stopped

"That's what we are proud of – the character of the performance. It would have been easy to crumble, having conceded two goals in a minute.

"Everyone has seen it where teams are on a comeback and the side that was in the lead has had to settle for a point or even worse.

"But we calmed it down. The senior lads got our heads together and we saw the game out really well and deserved the win."

Taylor believes to win promotion a side needs to be able to play good attacking, football and be able to grind out results.

He said: "As a team, we do pride ourselves on the way we play. We try to play the right way – possession football and being attacking.

"But when we need to dig in and make sure of the result we can do that as well. That is why we are where we are in the league.

"You cannot be successful if you don't have one without the other. That is why when we look at Bury we take pride in the whole game. Barring one minute, I thought we played really well.

"In the first-half we were dominant and after the break we started well, then had that crazy minute. But after that we showed a lot of character with our reaction."

The result saw the Saddlers move back into the automatic promotion places in League One with O'Driscoll's side a point better off than third-placed Gillingham with the benefit of a game in hand.

But Taylor insists there is no chance of Walsall's players getting carried away.

He said: "Of course, you look at the table and after the Bury game I thought 'brilliant we are back in there.' But I just try and concentrate on the points tally.

"We know there is a points tally that you need to hit to either finish in the automatic promotion places or reach the play-offs.

"The reality is Bury is just one game. It doesn't matter if you are in the automatics in January, you have to be in them in May."

Taylor was recalled to O'Driscoll's line-up for the trip to Gigg Lane and was pleased with his performance.

He added: "I was happy. I had a lot of one-on-ones to contend with, which is a little bit unusual. But, overall, I was just delighted with the win."