Express & Star

Saddlers still need to finish the job

For a team that's specialised in draws this season, there's a certain irony that Walsall managed to end up with nothing at Charlton from a game where we were well worth a point, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.

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For a team that's specialised in draws this season, there's a certain irony that Walsall managed to end up with nothing at Charlton from a game where we were well worth a point, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.

It was also strange to join in the applause for the team after they'd been on the end of a 1-0 reverse, when the previous two away trips had provoked very different reactions – anger and frustration at Sheff Wendy, disgust and dismay at Rochdale – despite each game yielding a point.

It was a decent performance against the Champions-elect, who are obviously at the 'just get the points in the bag' stage of the season, although there were few clear cut chances and the goal was avoidable, we did share possession and had more shots and corners.

But as we approach the end of yet another season of struggle, with our fate yet to be decided, I detected a change in atmosphere in the away end on Monday. Maybe it was another fine footballing performance, inspired once again by loan stars Cuvelier and Mantom in central midfield, or maybe it was the regular reports of the timely demise of Wycombe and Orient, but there seemed to be a renewed sense of, if not optimism, then positivity that I haven't really noticed since the Great Escape this time last year.

Of course all of this needs be tempered by the fact that there's still work to do. We still need wins from our last four games, as many as possible and preferably as soon as possible.

Tranmere and Exeter are both winnable games and I'm not fazed by the prospect of the final matches against Huddersfield or the club that should not be, both will be waiting for the play-offs hoping to avoid injuries and suspensions. And after all it's not the fixtures against teams at the top that have been the problem this season.

The points we need are there for the taking, let's try to avoid honourable defeats and even more draws and get the job done and dusted.

Come on you Saddlers.

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