Stevenage win one of proudest for Walsall's Sadler

Walsall head coach Mat Sadler said Tuesday's win over Stevenage in the Vertu Trophy was one of his proudest nights since becoming boss two and a half years ago.

Sadler made 10 changes to the side that beat Bromley on Saturday to maintain their lead at the top of League Two for the last-32 tie at the Lamex Stadium.

After going behind against Boro - currently second in League One - just before the hour, the Saddlers found another gear as on-loan Rico Richards grabbed his first two goals for the club to seal Walsall's third win in a row and fifth in their past six games.

Sadler said there were a number of things that made him so proud of his side.

"Going into the game with loads of changes - I knew what I wanted out of the game - to make sure everyone was ready for the tough games we've got coming up and to throw their hat into the ring to want to play," he told BBC Radio WM.

Sadler added: "It is one of the proudest nights since I've been doing this job.

"Maybe that's not an obvious one with it being the Vertu Trophy away at Stevenage with a few hundred watching - but that surpassed all my expectations.

"I knew we were up against a very strong opponent so to show that heart, fight and willingness to head, kick and scrap - in defending the box we were amazing and then showed unbelievable quality in that second half.

"We always talk about smiling through setbacks - things are going to happen and I think we've got a belief that we have a good squad and can change things."

One of the players singled out by Sadler for their performance was teenage centre-back Stan Straw.

Straw turned 17 in August and made his full debut after three appearances from the bench earlier in the competition.

"After about 70 minutes I thought 'is it starting to take its toll on him?'" Sadler said.

"I got a message on but the boy just said 'no don't worry about that I'll keep going'.

"He's got a long journey ahead of him - I remember being 17 and you don't realise what's ahead. You think it's going to be a straight line and it isn't.

"But he's got a super-strength - he's a magnet to the ball.

"We know there's so much development physically and technically to come but he's got a good head on his shoulders and he's got a good career with us ahead of him."