David Grof puts Walsall first

David Grof today insisted he is happy to shelve contract talks to focus on Walsall's relegation fight.

The goalkeeper reckons the Saddlers don't need the distractions with the survival race going to the wire.

Grof's deal expires in the summer, along with those of Oliver Lancashire and Manny Smith, but with the Saddlers' League One fate in the balance he has put his future on hold.

"I just want to get through the season and make sure we stay in League One," he said, with Walsall two points above the bottom four.

"I'm concentrating on the next game and making sure I'm keep my form up."

"I haven't spoken to the club since the start of the season and I signed my contract.

"I'm concentrating on the next game and making sure I'm keeping my performances up.

"In the situation we can't afford any distractions – we have to keep concentrating and make sure we win the next game."

Grof, who joined on a free from Notts County last year, has kept club legend Jimmy Walker on the bench since replacing him at the end of January after Walker picked up a hamstring injury.

And the 22-year-old is thrilled to have become boss Dean Smith's first choice keeper.

He said: "I came here to get into the team and be No.1 and I'm delighted I can finally be that. It's good I'm getting a run of games because I'm getting my confidence up and every game I'm improving.

"It's fantastic to work with Jimmy. He's great and he's always the first one to congratulate and praise me if I have a good game. We've got a really good relationship.

"Everyone knows how big of a legend he is so I've got to be happy."

The Saddlers now go to third-bottom Rochdale on Saturday eyeing back-to-back wins after Tuesday's 3-1 win over Colchester and Grof vowed they will go for the win.

"Some of the boys have experience in staying up so we just have to make sure we keep going and don't leave it until the last game," he said.

"If we do everything right in the last few games we don't have to worry about other results. Every game is a cup final and even when we go into the matches against Huddersfield and Charlton we will go to get three points."