Mattis' warning ahead of Leeds trip

Walsall midfielder Dwayne Mattis has warned his team-mates their season is on the brink of collapse and could get worse at Leeds if they don't improve.

The Saddlers go to Elland Road tonight desperate to put the campaign back on track, after just one win in their last 10 games.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Oldham saw boss Chris Hutchings slam his side, who are now 15 points adrift of the League One play-offs in 12th, and Mattis has echoed the call to not let the campaign fizzle out.

He said: "If we carry on playing like we did on Saturday it will peter out. It's up to us to pick ourselves up and make sure it doesn't. If we keep playing like we are we'll be looking behind us rather than in front of us.

"We've been inconsistent all season, one good game and then we'll be been poor in the next one. Last Tuesday we were really good, it was one of the best of the season but Saturday was one of the worst."

Mattis claims Walsall could be humbled by automatic promotion chasing Leeds if they don't learn from Saturday's no-show.

He said: "If we play like we did on Saturday then we'll lose 3-0 or 4-0, something embarrassing. The lads know that. We have to go there with no fear and take the game to Leeds to put them on the back foot.

"It's the biggest game of the season and if you can't look forward to it you shouldn't be playing. It's a great game to have after playing so poorly on Saturday.

"We're going to a big stadium to show what we can do."

The Saddlers have scored just twice in their last five games – although have only conceded twice in that time – and Mattis admits it's a concern but has backed new signing Julian Gray to solve their problems.

He said: "It's a worry, our defensive form is good, but we need to start getting more balls in the box and be better at set pieces.

"Julian is another attacking player on the left and if you have him and Peter Till on the right we can get those two going to help the front two, because they are feeding off scraps at the moment."