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Jamie Paterson urges Walsall to think big

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Jamie Paterson today urged Walsall to dare to dream and insisted they can mount a shock promotion challenge.

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The winger reckons there is no reason why the Saddlers cannot continue their early season form and stun the doubters. They go to Bournemouth on Saturday seventh in League One after one defeat in their last seven games and Paterson dismissed any suggestions the Saddlers won't last the pace.

He said: "Why not think positively? We've had two struggling seasons the last couple of years so why not be positive? Why can't we challenge for promotion?

"We'll know in the next 10 games, if we're still there or thereabouts at Christmas.

"It shows the lesser teams are starting to play football. We might not have as much money as the other clubs but there doesn't seem to be a difference. Coventry are bottom and Portsmouth are down there but even with their money problems they have got players on big wages.

"We still went there and won so we've proved we can do it against the bigger sides. There's no reason why we can't beat the lesser sides."

And the 20-year-old said the Saddlers must cash in on their form ahead of three games next week.

They go to Bournemouth on Saturday before a home double header with Leyton Orient on Tuesday and Carlisle next weekend.

"We've played the so-called bigger teams in the league but who's to say they are the best teams?" said the winger. "We've got some games coming up against Bournemouth, Orient and Carlisle next week and you could say they were 'smaller' teams in the league but they could come here and beat us.

"But with our confidence the way it is there's no reason why we can't get nine points. We've got to take every game as it comes.

"Everyone in the team knows what we're doing and we're all working hard. That's a big one for us, we need to work hard as well as passing the ball."

Team-mate Florent Cuvelier agreed, adding: "It will be our responsibility to make sure we don't think it's easy.

"It's good we've had a tough start as we're fully focused. There are no excuses."