Walsall FC: Why Paul Downing hopes Andy Butler will help secure Saddlers' promotion

A 3-1 win over Fleetwood yesterday ensured Jon Whitney's side head into the final game of the League One season still dreaming of a top two finish.

To have a chance of that happening, Walsall need to beat Port Vale on Sunday and hope Burton lose to Butler's Doncaster. And Downing will be calling his former defensive partner to remind him of his Walsall duties.

"Stranger things have happened in football and we're going to Port Vale believing we can go up automatically," he said.

"We have to win otherwise it's game over, so first and foremost we have to take control of our own matters.

"I'll be speaking to Andy Butler over the next week to see if he can put one in from a corner.

"I know Andy and he will be right up for the game.

"I think there will be a big part of him that wants to win that game for Walsall. He spent a long time as a Walsall player and also captained the club.

"He is held in high regard by the fans here. He will want to win it for Doncaster because they need a performance for their fans but it's an added incentive for him that it will help Walsall and it will give him more motivation."

Walsall swept aside lowly Fleetwood yesterday with goals from Downing, Tom Bradshaw and Romaine Sawyers seeing Whitney's side run out deserved winners.

Two of those goals came in the first 18 minutes as the Saddlers came flying out of the blocks with Downing admitting the team were pleased with their performance.

"We were really happy with the performance," the centre-back added.

"There was a bit of pressure on us before the game with Burton winning against Gillingham and us needing to win.

"We knew Fleetwood were going to come here and battle because they needed just a point to retain their league status.

"But I thought the way we started was fantastic and that set the tone. We were aggressive and dominated the game."