Alex Nicholls is sorry for broken promises
Alex Nicholls today apologised to Walsall's loyal fans for the Saddlers' empty promises and insisted they are right to feel let down.
Alex Nicholls today apologised to Walsall's loyal fans for the Saddlers' empty promises and insisted they are right to feel let down.
The striker feels the players have disappointed their supporters after vowing to challenge for the play-offs in the summer.
They host Notts County tomorrow only out of the League One drop zone on goal difference after just four league wins all season.
And six-goal Nicholls admitted the Saddlers' pre-season predictions have backfired to leave them red-faced.
"You can understand the fans' frustrations because we came out at the start of the season and said 'expect big things' so I can understand where they are coming from," he said.
"I don't know what it was but you could sense something really special in the summer. It all seemed so good. The spirit is brilliant and it's difficult to explain because I really did feel we had enough to challenge for the play-offs.
"It's fine lines. If we hadn't dropped all the points we have then we'd be seventh or somewhere like that. Those fine lines are the hardest to cross."
The Saddlers had a fixture free weekend and could have dropped into the bottom four had results gone against them.
Yeovil's 2-1 win over Preston saw them go above Walsall but Wycombe's 5-2 defeat at Brentford left the Saddlers 20th.
They are locked on 25 points with 21st placed Scunthorpe – who they visit on Saturday – and Nicholls admitted the squad are targeting a double boost this week.
He said: "We all believe in our own ability and as a team. We're a couple of wins away from improving and we'll be fine.
"We don't go into games looking for a point. We go there for the win. The gaffer believes it and we believe it. We can beat any team on the day. We've beaten Sheffield Wednesday and gave Charlton a good run for their money.
"I think if we get back-to-back wins then there's only one way we're looking. They would be massive and take us right up the table. If we got that confidence would be sky high and I can't see us slipping back then. It's just a case of doing it."
