Hammers boss Harry Redknapp was delighted with the performance of his team as they overcame a stiff challenge from Ray Graydon's promotion contenders this afternoon.
Speaking after the game Redknapp said:"It was a typical third round cup tie played on a terrible pitch - no one's fault, the weather has been awful and the pitch was cutting up and very, very difficult to play good football on.
"But I thought we did great - we stuck at it and well deserved the win.
"We've had so many of these games over the years at West Ham dating back to Bobby, Martin and Geoff's days," he added. "I've been used to it over the years and I knew it would be a tough game. Our attitude had to be right.
"But I do think that when you've got people like Pearcey and Winterburn who've been there, seen it all and done it - their attitude is always right and the players around them all responded. It was a good performance.
"At 2-1 we were missing chances and the keeper made a couple of saves on the spin - we needed that extra goal. Finally we got it."
Redknapp also praised hitman Freddy Kanoute after his match-winning brace, and veteran Stuart Pearce following another excellent display.
"Freddy is absolutely everything," he said. "He looks a real player; he's in good form.
"He's an outstanding talent but the old stager Pearcey was outstanding today as well; the way he led from the front was superb."
And the Hammers boss revealed that he spent a final few minutes biting his fingernails in the dugout after the home side reduced the deficit to just one goal with three minutes left on the clock.
"It was a difficult game today; they came back and gave us a frightening last minute or two," he said.
"It was a game that lots of people would look at and think this was a game in which we could go out of the cup. So it was nice to come here and get through - obviously I'm well pleased."
And Harry also had time to praise Ray Graydon's promotion chasers.
"Walsall are a very good side," he added. "They play good stuff and I think they'd be a credit to the first division if they get up - and I'd like to see them get up this year."
Walsall boss Graydon was clearly disappointed with the result, although gracious in defeat. He said:
"The first goal was a bit of a killer for us and perhaps spoilt the tempo of our game. But over the 90 minutes I couldn't be too critical of our lads.
"We didn't get right at it but as the game progressed you saw more about the determination in my side and some of the quality in it as well. I think in the end we're going out with honours, and that's a nice way to put it.
"As professionals the players feel the same as I do. There is a bit of disappointment because on a slightly better day we know that we could have caused an upset. We all felt that we could win the game and that's probably a good reflection on the people I've got here. They all felt there was enough in the team to go on and win it.
"When we're playing in the second division it is different from playing against Premiership opposition, and certainly Harry's team have got the quality. The ball did zip around a bit quicker than it does in the second division, but I felt that we dealt with it reasonably well overall."
And Graydon felt that his side perhaps deserved at least a reply after their exertions.
"Walker did have a couple of spells where he needed to make saves but I thought the overall passage of the game was perhaps deserving of a draw at least," he said.
And he ended with a comment that Redknapp himself would have been proud of when he said:
"You saw the quality of the finish of Kanoute - I wonder if I can get him on loan for a couple of months!"
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