Jonathan Macken's on the offensive

Striker Jonathan Macken is ready to launch an on-pitch offensive to overhaul Walsall's public image.

The veteran forward believes the rock-bottom club are viewed as a soft touch and is out to prove the doubters wrong.

He has warned of hard times ahead as the Saddlers battle the drop but believes they are slowly turning the corner.

Tomorrow's League One visit of Bristol Rovers is the Saddlers' latest must-win game at the Banks's Stadium - a ground where they have not won since November.

Bookies are offering 16-1 for Walsall to beat the drop, odds which highlight the severity of the situation.

They are nine points from safety, seven behind tomorrow's visitors, with time running out to save the season.

But Macken is prepared for a Banks's battle and is willing to pull out all the stops to change their image.

He said: "It's not going to be easy, it's going to be a difficult time because everyone will think they'll be coming here to turn us over.

"We've got to turn that around, change everyone's attitude, give everyone a game and come away with the results we need.

"Obviously at home the results haven't been good enough. Everyone is thinking 'what score is it going to be today, what team is going to turn up today?'

"We've got to change every bit of us, the way we go about games, our body language and the way we set out to win games.

"We're on the right path but it's a hard road and it's going to be difficult.

"We can certainly use the underdog tag to our advantage but we've got to change people's attitude with performances and the amount of games we win.

"We're heading towards it but we've got to do it sooner rather than later."

Despite failing to win in Dean Smith's first five games, the Saddlers have improved under the new boss and can count themselves unlucky not to have picked up a three-point haul.

Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Oldham saw them squander numerous chances but Macken insists the Saddlers have always tried to stay positive.

He said: "You can never say we've got a losing mentality because you never want to lose but you tend to go into a roll, you spiral out of control and suddenly you lose five or six games. It's not good enough.

"Everyone has an important role to play, whoever is picked in the XI at the time, whoever is on the bench and whoever is around at the time.

"We know we have to put it right."

But a game with Rovers represents another key battle in the club's fight for survival.

They drew 2-2 at the Memorial Ground earlier this month and Macken believes they can sink the Pirates to keep them within touching distance.

The 33-year-old: "We have got to go out with the same belief and team spirit and hopefully things will turn around, luck will shine on us.

"It's definitely winnable but you can look at most teams in the division as beatable.

"It's never going to be easy and we wouldn't be where we are if every game was easy."

Tuesday's outing saw the Saddlers, who will be without the injured Darren Byfield again, frustrated despite Darryl Westlake's first career goal saving a point.

Fans showed their appreciation for the team's efforts and Macken believes Smith has had a positive impact.

The striker said: "He's come in and lifted all of us with enthusiasm and the way we've gone about training. It's good and something we all needed and want to be a part of.

"Hopefully he can lift us out of the bottom four. It's what every manager aspires to be, a success, and you've got to start somewhere.

"Unfortunately for the gaffer we're bottom of the league but you can always build on it and it's a good place to achieve something. The lads are going out and doing their best.

"All we can do is keep trying to get those performance levels up and get the wins we need to get us out of the bottom four."

Rovers have set themselves a target for 54 points for survival and boss Dave Penney, who replaced Paul Trollope this month, hopes to bag two loan signings to face the Saddlers.

He is without the suspended Danny Coles and Chris Lines meaning Brentford loanee David McCracken is set to continue in defence.

And, with a depleted backline, boss Penney is wary of the Saddlers' threat so soon after playing them.

He said: "They have had a change of manager as well and they keep going right to the death - they got a late goal against us and another against Oldham in midweek.

"They are really trying hard to get points and it will be a tough game because they are battling away for them just like we are.

"But we are hoping to build on the momentum and confidence we have got from our last two games."