Jon Whitney: I'm not feeling the Walsall pressure

Interim boss Jon Whitney believes the everyday working world comes with more pressure than masterminding Walsall's promotion push.

The Saddlers, who have secured a place in the League One play-offs, are still in with a chance of going up automatically as they prepare for their final two games of the season.

Walsall currently trail second placed Burton Albion by three points, but wins over Fleetwood and Port Vale could see them overhaul Nigel Clough's men.

Whitney, who is waiting to discover whether he will be in charge next season, helped his father-in-law dig graves while he trained to be physio after retiring as player. And he believes that is much tougher than football management.

"I dug graves for two-and-a-half years – this is a doddle compared to digging clay graves at six o'clock in the morning," he said. "Win or lose, I always find it exciting. I always try to find positives. This is something I'm revelling in and I'm not going to waste it."

Whitney saw his side respond to defeat against Bradford by beating West Midlands rivals Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

It was a game that saw the head coach name an attacking line-up with Kieron Morris, Romaine Sawyers, Milan Lalkovic and Anthony Forde all starting in midfield.

And with six points likely to be needed to overhaul Burton, Whitney knows his team can't play safe.

"In the past we have drawn too many games," he said.

"In the past we have been too safe.

"Against Shrewsbury we started really well. We exerted ourselves well and the fans were behind us.

"Of course we would have liked a better performance at Bradford. But it's a positive we are not drawing many games. If we lose one, we respond by winning.

"We have had a really tough run but we have come out of it with a good turn of points."

Elsewhere, midfielder Isaiah Osbourne completed 45 minutes for Walsall's reserves as he continues his comeback from knee surgery.

The former Villa man, who is yet to make his Saddlers debut, started the game against Bradford but couldn't prevent his side from falling to a 6-0 defeat.

The match also saw the Walsall field a number of trialists including Manchester United youngster Oliver Rathbone.