A mental battle for Walsall winger

Walsall winger Steve Jones believes the team must win a mental battle against Leyton Orient if they are to end the run which has threatened to sink their season.

The wide man heads to Brisbane Road with the Saddlers tomorrow fresh from his first start in three months in the 2-2 draw with Millwall last week.

Chris Hutchings' men are targeting just their fourth win in 16 games – a streak which has marooned them in mid-table, 15 points adrift of the play-offs and 12 above the drop zone.

Hosts Orient have a near identical recent record – with just three wins in 16 games – leaving them 16th in League One and still threatened by relegation.

When the two out-of-form sides meet tomorrow, Jones believes the team with the strongest mind will emerge victorious.

He said: "In today's game mental attitude is one of the biggest parts. It goes a long way to getting you points, your mindset can change from going to get three points to think 'we're hanging on here' – it's a massive part of today's football.

"It helps, if you're positive and your mental state is right you can achieve anything, hopefully we can all get a good result because we need one.

"I've got a lot of friends in Oldham and they were saying Athletic beat them quite comfortably in the week. They've had a long trip there and back and will be a bit down. We can be positive and get the points."

But the former Burnley ace admits the Saddlers' mental strength failed them when they threw away a 2-0 lead against Millwall, following Rene Gilmartin and Jamie Vincent's high profile mix-up.

He said: "We were cruising and they didn't look like scoring. We gifted them a goal and that obviously changed their mindset and changed ours.

"We won't ever make a mistake like that again. It was an under-11's match mistake. It was lack of communication which you can't afford to do in this game.

"In the second-half it was tough with the sending off. Credit to them, they played to their strengths, got crosses in and got the goal which killed us."

A win at Brisbane Road would not only be the perfect response but also mark Jones' debut at the stadium – uncharted territory for a man who has made 406 career appearances.

The nine-goal wideman hopes the O's will continue the poor form which has left them winless in seven games.

He said: "It's the only ground in the whole of the Football League I've never played at, so I'm looking forward to going and seeing what it's like. I played them when I was at Bradford.

"We got beaten 2-1 and we battered them but that's football, it's the inexperience in that team which caught us on the day.

"They are more inconsistent than us, on their day they can beat anyone but hopefully they'll have an off day, as they have had recently.

"They've got good players, no doubting that, and it's about whether you perform on the day."

The 33-year-old is set to feature again after his first start since December last weekend and has reassured fans of is fitness, ready for a final assault on League One following his groin injury.

He said: "We had a massive running session on Tuesday, so I've been feeling that. It's so far so good, nothing serious so it's good to get through the running."

Dwayne Mattis and Peter Till are also in contention after lay-offs but Rhys Weston is out with a calf injury and Matt Richards' unbroken appearance record is over, with the left-back suspended.

But the Saddlers will get help from head of youth Dean Smith, who made over 200 appearances for the O's and rose up the ranks to become assistant manager.

Smith left Brisbane Road in December 2008 before moving to Walsall last year and the 38-year-old will give the management the inside track.

He said: "I'll be prepping the gaffer and Martin O'Connor before they go down. It's still the same team from when I was there. I was there for nearly 10 years, playing and coaching, so I know the people well.

"We're all Walsall and we want the club to be successful, it's a very professional club. The training ground is the focal point of it, we'll all sit down together and discussing things."

Smith highlighted the danger of 11-goal striker Scott McLeish but insists it is at the other end where the Saddlers must be wary.

He said: "Scott has been scoring goals but the most consistent is Tamika Mkandawire. When we were there we signed him from Hereford and he can step up to play in the Championship. He's an excellent centre half and we have to get the better of him to come away with the points."