Mean streak lifts Saddlers’ spirits

WALSALL have significantly tightened things up at the back of late, and that has helped them to a four-match unbeaten run.

The Saddlers struggled during the early weeks of the season, but clean sheets in three of those four games mean Dean Smith’s men now sit in a much healthier 16th place in the league.

Maybe Walsall have turned a significant corner as they try to stall Athletic’s recent upturn in fortunes at SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday.

Walsall have improved significantly of late, and gave League One leaders Bristol City a real run for their money last weekend in a 1-1 draw at the Bescot Stadium. They followed up with a Trophy win at Rochdale, so confidence is high.

But Walsall lose the services of their two main strikers for Saturday’s fixture. Romaine Sawyers is away on international duty with St Kitt’s and Nevis, and Tom Bradshaw has been struggling with a hamstring problem so is also set to miss the trip north.