Dean Keates delighted and relieved as Walsall secure League One status
Boss Dean Keates admitted he was both delighted and relieved after Walsall secured their League One status with a game to spare.
After beating relegation rivals Northampton on Saturday, the Saddlers travelled to Bradford knowing a draw would be enough to mathematically secure their place in the division for the 2018/19 campaign.
And Keates’ men got the point they needed with Erhun Oztumer giving them the lead at Valley Parade before Matthew Lund equalised on the stroke of half-time in a 1-1 draw.
The result means the Saddlers can now relax for their final day trip to Fleetwood, with Oldham or Rochdale set to join Northampton, MK Dons and Bury in League Two next season.
“It feels great to be safe,” Keates said.
“It is a relief. Bradford wasn’t a classic – but it didn’t need to be a classic, it needed to be effective.
“We are disappointed we didn’t win the game. I thought we played well first-half.
“It was a bad goal for us to concede. It was right on the stroke of half-time which changes the team talk.
“In the second half we got put under a little bit of pressure but the lads dealt with it.
“Liam Roberts has pulled one good save off but I felt all the pressure was in front of us and in the middle half of the pitch.”
Despite the importance of the match, Walsall’s players impressed in the first-half with the squad showing few nerves.
And Keates revealed in the build-up he told the players to enjoy the occasion.
“We looked at it as an opportunity,” the boss continued.
“We spoke about that on Monday, in the hotel before the game and in the dressing room.
“In football you to do get opportunities, it’s up to you to take them.”
Bradford improved significantly after the interval, but despite dangerman Charlie Wyke having a few chances, Walsall held on for their point relatively comfortably.
“They had a lot of pressure but didn’t hurt us too much,” Keates added.
“They had a few half-chances but we put bodies on the line and made blocks which we needed.
“The distances were correct. We worked well as a unit and individually. They got the job done and they did it well.”
