Mat Sadler backs Walsall to turn the tide after five-match winless run

The Saddlers suffered back-to-back defeats against Bristol Rovers and Barnet last week to leave them without a win on home soil since Boxing Day. 

Sadler has made 13 changes across the past four games and ripped up his entire midfield when he made four half-time substitutions during the 3-1 home defeat against Barnet. 

Walsall will now enter a period of 11 days without a game but Sadler remains adamant that results will change.

'We need to find that dynamic, and we will'

"Some of it is games. There have been a lot of games and this is now the end of that run of games," boss Sadler said.

"So there has been six in the past two weeks. That's partially the reason [why there have been so many changes] but it's also been because it hasn't looked as we've wanted it to look. 

"And we're trying to find that way to make it look like we want it to. That's when it comes down to the fact that it's a bit of a new group now all of a sudden with a few of those changes that we've made. 

"We just haven't found that dynamic just yet. We need to and we will." 

There were also audible calls for his sacking from the home supporters during the second half, and once again from those who stayed until the full-time whistle. 

A large number of supporters headed for an early exit, but Sadler refused to be drawn into speculation surrounding his future.

Sadler accepted that the performance was not to the standard expected and that the team looked as if they were "thinking backwards rather than forwards".

'Thinking backwards rather than forwards'

"Probably from the perspective of there is expectation about how we go about things," he replied when asked if this is his most challenging period yet.

"It was challenging in the first year where we were in that point in the season and then we broke through that. 

"There are always challenging periods throughout any season. The key from our point of view is making sure that whatever any of that means, we need to find a way that we want to play. 

"And find a way that we want to go about things, but we didn't see anywhere near enough of that [against Barnet]. 

"That was the frustration from my point of view. We looked like a team that was thinking backwards rather than forwards." 

Walsall are not in action until they travel to Grimsby Town on February 18, which could at least buy time for Sadler. 

'It will be a hell of a lot more satisfying when we come the other side'

Nonetheless, patience is wearing thin, but Sadler insists that it will feel a lot more "satisfying" once results improve, after the challenging period that they have been through.

"The only way through anything is to work hard and it is a hell of a lot more satisfying when you come the other side," he added.

"Work hard to continue to grow what we have grown, or get back to who we are. 

"This is how we play, this is what has been gone, throw away some of those bits that have not been so good, but most importantly, bring the energy."