Walsall winger Peter Till has admitted the team cannot afford to drop points against their promotion rivals over Christmas.

The Saddlers are 10th in League One and travel to Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day after a stirring fightback to draw 2-2 with Leyton Orient on Saturday.

They then host title chasing Norwich and Charlton and the wide man believes the festive programme is critical.

He said: “Christmas is a massive time for us and if we can pick up two or four points from the next two games it puts us right back in the mix.

“It’s an important time, a crucial time to get us back there.”

At the weekend Till again deputised for the sidelined Steve Jones, who is battling a groin injury, and earned praise for his contribution.

The winger set up Troy Deeney’s first, had a hand in the striker’s equaliser and now wants another run in the team.

He said: “You get a pat on the back for doing well, but I need to do it more consistently. When ‘Jonah’ is back he’ll be knocking on the door, so I’ve got to keep making sure I put crosses in to keep my place in the team.

“I don’t want to be a bit part player, I want to be starting every game.”

But the 24-year-old reckons Saturday’s result still rankles with the players, despite the fact they closed the gap on the play-offs to three points.

He said: “We’re still frustrated because we had enough chances to win the game, but if we had started right we shouldn’t have been in the position we were in.”