Mullins’ joy as U’s hit back to see off Saddlers
HAYDEN Mullins praised the character of his Colchester United players after they came from behind to beat Walsall and boost their survival hopes.
Colchester winger Callum Harriott hit a post with a curled effort early on but Walsall took a 20th-minute lead when defender James Clarke turned home at the far post, after Caolan Lavery had helped on Tyreik Wright’s corner.
But the U’s equalised in the 37th minute through Michael Folivi, who stabbed in from close range after Frank Nouble’s effort had hit a post, following good play by Tom Eastman.
And Colchester’s winner came in the fourth minute of firsthalf stoppage-time from Ryan Clampin’s left-foot volley, after a clearance had fallen to him on the edge of the area.
The home side thought they had made it 3-1 through Folivi’s far-post effort just before the hour which they felt had gone over the line before keeper Jack Rose had collected but they held on.
Colchester are six points above the relegation zone with four games remaining and interim boss Mullins was impressed with their attitude. He said: “Everyone is delighted and it’s been a long time coming.
“The most pleasing part for me was the way we started the game was very bright.
“We had a great chance and hit the post and then went a goal down but to show the character and the desire and the energy to come back from a goal down was fantastic and that was the most pleasing part of the day for me.
“We spoke about being bright and having the confidence to go out and attack the game today and I think we did that.
“We got done by a setplay which was a sucker punch but we created enough chances today and we looked bright on the counter-attack.”
The Saddlers suffered a first defeat in seven matches and boss Brian Dutton admitted they weren’t at their best.
Dutton said: “It was a bit flat today.
“The lads have had to go back to the well again and try to put in another performance like they did in the last two games, but we didn’t see that today.
“We saw a flat performance and there was a lack of intensity.”