Heat on Walsall rivals for Marc Laird

Marc Laird has cranked the heat up on Walsall's relegation rivals by declaring 'catch us if you can.'

The Saddlers occupy the final League One safety spot ahead of the last four games of the season - within touching distance of an epic Great Escape.

But third bottom Notts County play their final game in hand at Tranmere tonight and a win would dump the Saddlers back into the relegation zone.

However, Millwall loanee Laird reckons it's their rivals and not the Saddlers who should feel the strain before the season's finale.

He said: "We've got the points on the board. It's all very well having the games in hand but us having the game advantage over them puts all the pressure on them. We're above them and we've got the points on the board so it's all on them.

"We can't relax. I had this when I was at Millwall. The first season I went there in January 2008 we were scrapping for our lives and every win was important.

"It's not a great situation to be involved in but we've got to come through as a group and make sure next Saturday and Monday we're ready to go."

A County victory would leave the Saddlers fourth bottom and a point from the safety line, but Laird dismissed the Magpies and insisted Walsall won't panic should they win.

He said: "We're out the bottom four at the moment so you do look at the results around us.

"But we've got to concentrate on our results and not look at the teams below us because when you do start doing that you don't concentrate on your own performances."

Laird has made four appearances since joining from the Lions on loan until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old former Manchester City trainee is now targeting six points against Sheffield Wednesday and Oldham in the crucial Easter weekend double header.

He said: "It's massive. All the games between now and the end of the season are huge. There will be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season but I think Saturday is massive.

"All the games are important, there are 12 points to play for and they're all going to be tough but we need to go in with the right attitude and make sure we perform."