Jon Whitney encouraged by Walsall defence in stalemate

Last night’s game at the Banks’s ended without either team being able to break the deadlock but it was Whitney who was much the happier of the two managers following an organised performance from his team.

The Saddlers back five featured five new signings including latest arrival James Wilson but coped well with Villa’s threat, while it was the hosts who created the best chance of the game when Amadou Bakayoko fired wide when through on goal.

Whitney said: “The most pleasing stuff as gaffer is to see some of the stuff we worked on yesterday coming into fruition today.

“It’s a new back five but it was as though they have played together for a long time and that tells you the experience they have.

“We want to be a footballing team but I thought we had a purpose tonight. We weren’t predictable.

“We limited them to chances from set pieces. We still have a couple of weeks before we can fine tune things.

“Fitness-wise I am where I want us to be. It’s nice we have come through unscathed. What I would like is a big headache when it comes to the Friday before Bury. That is what I am aiming toward.”

Villa started the brighter of the two sides but Jordan Amavi’s early header, which Saddlers keeper Mark Gillespie pushed round the post, turned out to be their best effort of the game.

Bakayoko then should have scored when a through ball from Adam Chambers sent him through on goal but shot wide.

Both teams struggled to manufacture clear cut openings as the game wore on and defences remained on top.

“Of course it gives us confidence,” continued Whitney. “It was a strong starting team. Energy wise I want to make sure no-one out-runs us. You could see that.

“Physical is a massive part of it but we can also play. When it was at a high tempo in the first half I thought we were the better team.”