Walsall winger Claude Gnakpa calls for another big show from Saddlers
Friday 30th December 2011, 9:28AM GMT.
Walsall winger Claude Gnakpa today called for another big show as the Saddlers look to kick their habit.
Dean Smith’s men host second-bottom Rochdale tomorrow looking for their first back-to-back league wins of the season.
They are 18th in League One, a point above the drop zone, after Boxing Day’s 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
The Saddlers struck twice in injury time – with Gnakpa netting the equaliser – to snatch victory and continue their form against the big guns.
They have also taken points off Charlton, Huddersfield and Preston this season but failed against smaller sides and now Gnakpa wants victory against the lesser lights.
The 28-year-old said: “We must try to repeat the same performance. The manager had a talk after the game and said we must concentrate on Rochdale and that’s what we’re doing.
“Any team can beat anyone so we’ve got to be careful. We weren’t that scared about our league position, because it was so close.
“We know a couple more wins can push us close to the middle of the table.”
The Saddlers are on a four-match unbeaten run in the league but just seven points separate the bottom seven in the league.
Rochdale are three points behind Walsall having seen their Boxing Day game at Tranmere called off after high winds damaged Prenton Park.
And Gnakpa insisted the Saddlers’ confidence is sky-high thanks to their revamped training routines.
He said: “The season is long and hopefully the second half is going to be much, much better.
“It’s down to the training sessions we’ve had. Richard O’Kelly and the coaching staff at the club are great partners with the manager and are doing a good job.
“It’s a great thing for the team.”
UK Sport
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