Andy Taylor: Saddlers mix is the perfect blend

Andy Taylor believes Walsall have the right blend of youth and experience to maintain their promotion dream.

The Saddlers enter tomorrow's game with Blackpool sitting second in League One, just two points behind leaders Burton Albion.

Sean O'Driscoll's side have taken 13 points from a possible 18 since the new head coach replaced Dean Smith last month.

And Taylor, who at 29 years old is one of the more experienced players in the Saddlers' squad, feels they have the right balance to ensure they will remain in the race for the Championship.

"We've got a really good mix," the defender said. "We've got the senior pros who are very professional and have played a lot of games and seen a lot of things.

"And then we've got some really good, young exciting players as well.

"I think you could see against Bury, when they got two goals back, the senior players were quick to get together.

"From that moment we are very proud of the character we showed.

"To be successful, you need a good mix – you can't have one without the other.

"We have a nice balance which should serve us well."

After a gruelling run of eight games in the space of 33 days, Walsall's players have been able to enjoy a slight rest over the past seven days without a midweek

match.

And Taylor admitted it's been nice to have a full week at the training ground, even if the team have had to contend with a frozen pitch as their Essington base.

"It's been a hell of a run recently and it's going to be another hell of a run soon with all the Tuesday games coming up," Taylor

added.

"It's been nice to get on the training pitch, although the weather's not the best at the minute.

"But the lads deserve a lot of credit for the shift they've put in over the Christmas and New Year period.

"We got a really good points haul from that period and now we are looking forward to Blackpool."