Carlisle vs Walsall preview: Saddlers shutting out "negativity" amid worrying run

Swindon Town ended Walsall's 12-match unbeaten run on home soil in League Two with a 1-0 win at Bescot on Saturday. 

The Saddlers were poor and the performance has done nothing to alleviate the sense of anxiety building within the fan base. 

A defeat at bottom-place Carlisle United tonight could see tensions boil over after a run of just two wins in nine games, but Gordon and his teammates are keen to shut out the noise.

He said: "There is no negativity seeping in. There hasn't been throughout the season because our biggest strength is that we've been together as a team. 

"Yes, we're going to be disappointed but there is no pointing the finger at anyone. Everyone knows what we want to achieve this season and we're all pushing in that direction. 

"The gaffer said to us, 'be positive, put the music on'. It's obviously hard for us to take that, but the gaffer is going to be disappointed as well, but he knows we've got another massive game on Tuesday to put it right. 

"Everyone forgets about Saturday if you get three points on Tuesday."

Walsall are still leading the charge at the top of League Two but the chasing pack are quickly gathering pace. 

Mat Sadler's men have seen their lead at the top sliced from 12 points to four in the space of six weeks, with Bradford City breathing heavily down their necks. 

The Bantams have registered 29 points from a possible 36 in 2025 (the most in the division) as they enter the business end of the campaign in red hot form. 

The Saddlers need to pick up points, and fast, especially with a trio of crunch clashes against fellow promotion contenders AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale not too far around the corner. 

Walsall's next seven fixtures 

• Mar 4: Carlisle (a) 
• Mar 8: Grimsby (h) 
• Mar 13: Bromley (a) 
• Mar 22: Gillingham (a) *pending international call-ups 
• Mar 29: Wimbledon (h) 
• Apr 1: Doncaster (a) 
• Apr 5: Port Vale (h) 

But in terms of the table, and results elsewhere, Gordon refuses to pay attention to any of it.

"I don't look at it," he claimed. "I don't look at Twitter, I don't look at social media and I don't at the table because win, lose or draw we've been top. 

"We've put ourselves in a good enough position where I know if we lose, worse case scenario is we're still top. 

"I only focus on Walsall and our results. Then at the end of the season, I will look at the table and go on Twitter to see what everyone has got to say. 

"For me, I've got no interest in looking at that. As a player my main focus is what is going on here and now." 

Sadler confirmed that Harry Williams, who has been nursing a minor knee issue, is fit to play after sitting out the last three games as an unused substitute.

Donervon Daniels (calf), Priestley Farquharson (thigh), George Hall (hamstring), Jack Earing (ankle) and Josh Gordon (hamstring) are all unavailable.