Walsall boss Mat Sadler has admitted that scoring the first goal was crucial in his side's 3-2 win over Notts County on a chilly Tuesday evening at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Going into half-time without any goals, it was clear that there would be little to separate the two teams and, despite five goals being scored, that proved to be accurate as the Saddlers edged a tight contest.
Taking the lead via Taylor Allen's curling corner kick, the Saddlers were soon two ahead as George Hall scored his second of the season just seven minutes after Allen's opener.
The visitors were gifted a way back into the game later in the half as Harry Williams' needless foul led to a David McGoldrick penalty, but Nathan Lowe, who had assisted Hall, was soon among the goals himself with his twelfth of the season.
County refused to go away quietly and dragged the Saddlers back to 3-2 during second-half stoppage time, but Sadler's men were ultimately able to play out the final stages and take three welcome points.
Speaking to the assembled media, including Lewis Cox of the Express & Star, Sadler said: "It was a good game!
"The first goal was always going to be really important, it opened up the way that Notts County play, they have a really good style, they're patient on the ball, wait for you to try to jump and create overloads wide.
"They did that once in the first half to hurt us. We had some good opportunities, they got good blocks in and we didn't quite take our chances.
"In the second half we had to show a different side, weathered a bit of a storm - which you will get in every game - and the first goal was really important.
"It sped up their play, made them move the ball quicker which helped us pick it off a few times."