Wednesday 15 January 2014 12:01, UK
Dean Smith praised goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell after his brilliant penalty save in injury time secured Walsall a 1-0 win over Oldham.
Referee Fred Graham pointed straight to the spot in stoppage time, ruling that Paul Downing had brought down James Tarkowski, but O'Donnell flew to his right to pull off a great save from substitute Adam Rooney's well-struck penalty. Smith's side moved into the League One play-off zone with the home victory on Tuesday night, and Smith said: "He's an improving goalkeeper and that's why we gave him an extended contract recently. But I'm not sure if it was a penalty. Paul (Downing) said he never touched their player." Walsall's winner in the 65th minute came from a move sparked by winger Febian Brandy, just back at the club on loan from Sheffield United. When the ball broke to Sam Mantom just outside the box he smashed a first-time drive past Mark Oxley, who had not been troubled too often. That was Mantom's third of the season. Saddlers boss Smith added: "It was perhaps an undeserved win and probably a draw would have been the right result. We didn't play anywhere near as well as we can, but there have been games this season when we have deserved all three points and haven't got them. "All credit to Oldham, they played some terrific football in the first half and we had to defend...a bit too deep for my liking, and we addressed that at half-time. "But it's pleasing for us to be in the play-off zone, which is the fruits of our labour and a hard-fought win. "Febian Brandy showed some good little touches and is capable of giving us something different." Brandy was booed by the Walsall fans when he was at the Banks's Stadium with Sheffield United a fortnight ago, but enjoyed a much better reception this time around. Walsall now face another tough home game on Saturday when table-topping Brentford are the visitors.