Walsall match winner Alex Nicholls says Saturday's home win over Swindon was very welcome after recent setbacks.

The striker headed the second goal in the 2-1 win, and believes the Saddlers deserved a change in fortunes.

"The last three or four weeks we haven't done the best, but we've just tried to put it to the back of our minds," he told BBC WM.

"The performance in the week against Oldham was really positive even though we lost the game."

The 20-year-old was quick to pay tribute to midfielder Richard Taundry for the cross that led to Nicholls' third goal of the season.

"It was a great ball. I didn't really have to do much, he put it on a sixpence for me and I was just in the right place," he said.

Saddlers boss Jimmy Mullen has been forced to dig deep in his squad over recent weeks because of injuries, and another young player catching the eye has been goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin, deputising for Clayton Ince.

"He's waited a long time for his chance," Nicholls noted.

"I've been here with him for maybe three or four years, and he hasn't really had much luck with Clayton being in such good form and not really getting injured.

"He's come in and done himself no harm at all, and gets man of the match."

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