Walsall boss Mat Sadler has spoken of the difficult conditions as Walsall extended their unbeaten run to eleven league games on Saturday afternoon.
Taking on Harrogate Town at their Exercise Stadium, both teams were battered and bruised by heavy rain and swirling wind, with the opening stages of the game producing little of note as the players looked to acclimatise.
The Saddlers were eventually able to put themselves into the lead eleven minutes before the break as on-loan Stoke City man Nathan Lowe grabbed his thirteenth goal of the season.
The home side had striker Josh March sent off a few minutes after Lowe's strike, but Walsall were only able to take a small advantage as Albert Adomah marked his first league start with a goal midway through the second-half.
Speaking to George Bennett of the Express & Star, Sadler said: "The conditions were awful. I didn't realise it was going to be like this, if I'm honest with you.
"Tough conditions but fair play to the lads, they didn't use it as an excuse at all. If anything, they used it as a tool to be more focused and concentrated and to be prepared for what ever was going to come.
"But with that wind and rain, it can be difficult, so getting the goal settles everything down. Obviously, the sending off puts the advantage firmly in our court.
"The only surprise I suppose is that there weren't more goals on the day because we had loads of great chances."