Walsall's Hayden White hoping experience is key

The 25-year-old had only made one start for Walsall before Saturday, playing 60 minutes in the EFL Trophy clash with Bristol Rovers last month.

He was then benched for the cup game with Chelsea Under-21's so that he would be fresh to start his first league game for Walsall – a 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers.

When asked how he has faired since joining Walsall, he said: “I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve recently moved up as well so that’s good.

"I’ve got a lot of experience in this league so that’s what I’m trying to bring in the dressing room, I know the dressing room is quite young but I’m sure I can be called upon to help the younger lads.

“I’ve been doing a lot of fitness work behind the scenes. The gaffer pulled me and told me that he was going to put me in.

"I’m not happy with the collective performance but satisfied with my own performance dare I say, so it’s one of many I hope.”

Despite the disappointing performance against Forest Green at the weekend, Darrell Clarke's men came away with a point in a game many believe they may have lost in the same circumstances last year.

White is taking some positives in that as he aims to take advantage of the unpredictable league this campaign.

“With the whole virus and things like that, it’s a wide open league this year so we need to be at it, more than we were (against Forest Green) and who knows where it can take you," he added.

"We’ll keep working hard and hopefully at the end of the season we’ll have something to be proud of.

“I heard a few of the boys say in there that perhaps in the past we might not have come away with anything.

"As we are all disappointed with the performance, at the end of the day it’s a point on the board and come the end of the season that could help us.”

Goalkeeper Liam Roberts almost single-handedly earned Walsall the point with a string of fine saves.

The hosts had 27 shots, with 10 on target, as Roberts fought to cling on to the draw.

White has heaped praise on the 25-year-old who was lauded by pundits for his display.

“He’s kept us in it," White said.

"We’ll keep going but at the end of the season that could be a good point for us so we’ll keep going.

“Robbo’s good. I’ve trained with him now for about a month so I see him day in and day out and he’s a quality goalkeeper.

“I think as a whole, collectively, we know we weren’t at it. The defence held up well, they had plenty of attempts.

“Rightly so the gaffer’s not happy with that. He expects better, he demands better and us as players as well we expect better than that.”