Andy Davies out to make Walsall home run pay off

Andy Cook and Isaiah Osbourne were on target while Dominic Gape netted an own-goal as the Saddlers ran out 3-2 winners at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday.

That victory saw Walsall return to winning ways following back-to-back losses at Luton and Southend.

It also moved them up to ninth in the League One table, two points outside the play-off zone with a game in hand.

And with the Saddlers enjoying a run of home games which started with the visit of Gareth Ainsworth’s side, Davies felt it was important the team were boosted by a victory.

“After the two away games – and now the run of home games – the most important thing for us against Wycombe was getting the win,” the Welshman said.

“It was nice to get some goals and entertain the supporters, because that is what you want to do.

“But it didn’t matter whether it was 1-0 or 3-2, getting the points was the only thing that mattered.

“It was massive on the back of the two defeats, to stay in the pack and get the three points was huge.

“It was the start of a run of five home games and now we need to carry that on.”

Walsall tinkered with their tactics against The Chairboys with manager Dean Keates opting for a 4-3-3 formation.

It saw Morgan Ferrier, who has previously played down the middle, operate on the left of the front three with Andy Cook central and Kieron Morris on the right.

While in midfield, Wolves loanee Connor Ronan was asked to play in a deep lying playmaker role behind Osbourne and George Dobson who charged box-to-box.

And Davies felt the system worked well.

“With Morgan, he takes up that channel when we play with the two up top anyway so he’s used to playing out off that left side,” the assistant boss continued.

“We’ve also seen him play a lot for his previous club on the left-hand side.

“We know what he’s about and what he can give us on that side of the pitch.

“Kieron (Morris) was able to then support Andy Cook on the other side.

“And with three in midfield we were able to get Connor Ronan on the ball and dictate the play for us against their central midfielders.

“From set-pieces I thought we looked threatening. Connor Ronan has put two or three great balls in and Andy Cook has managed to get on the end one,

“I thought that worked, certainly for the first hour or so. But after that we certainly saw some things we need to work on.”