Walsall FC's Adam Chambers will stay grounded in play-off hunt

It is sometimes easy to forget, considering the amount of work the 33-year-old gets through each game, that he is almost a decade older than many other players in Walsall's team. But it is this experience which means he isn't getting worked up about the Saddlers' latest frustrations.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Tranmere bore the familiar hallmarks of too many games this season, in which Dean Smith's side have failed to capitalise on their dominance.They also missed the chance to move into League One's top six but Chambers believes the best policy is to quickly move on.

"It's easy to dwell," he said. "You go through the season thinking we've dropped points here and we've dropped points there. But every season is like that and it happens to every team. Everyone drops points they think they shouldn't have. You can't really harp on about it, you have to look forward and be positive.

"There is another game tonight against Oldham we are looking to try and get three points out of."

Tonight's game represents another chance to jump into the play-off positions, although Chambers revealed league placing is not necessarily at the forefront of players' minds at present.

"Would it give us a psychological boost to be in the top six now?" he said. "I'm not sure, possibly.

"The main thing we concentrate on is our performance levels and we are confident we can pick up points and go on a run.

"We need to break into the top six at some point this season. We are looking for it. There are some games coming up we are looking at where we can get a run going.

"In the last couple of seasons, especially last season, we have always had a good second half to the campaign.

"If we can do that again we will be there or thereabouts. That is what we are looking to do."

Walsall got the better of Oldham 1-0 at Boundary Park, courtesy of a James Baxendale strike, on the second weekend of the season but, in truth, there was little to choose between the sides.

And while Lee Johnson's side may be residing at the wrong end of the table, they are entering the game off the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Stevenage.

Chambers believes the Saddlers will once again be forced to take the initiative if Oldham set up to frustrate them.

Walsall struggled earlier in the season against sides who sat back at the Banks's but have won four of their last five at home.

"We've been doing well at home and it's a decent run we are on," said Chambers. "But we are confident that when we play well we are a match for anyone.

"It's all about us, it's all about us performing and trying to get the confidence and consistency.

"Obviously we played Oldham early in the season at their place. I'd imagine they will come and try to stop us playing like a lot of teams have done so far.

"It's up to us to try and play like we can and get our performance up for the 90 minutes. If we do that I'm confident we can win. We go in knowing what we have to do to break them down and it should be a good game."

Smith is likely to stick with most of the same 11 who started at Tranmere despite his displeasure at the poor second-half display which allowed the hosts back in the game.

But he may be tempted to make a switch out wide after a disappointing performance from Ashley Hemmings at Prenton Park. Baxendale is likely to replace him.

Oldham could hand a starting spot to striker Charlie MacDonald following his recovery from a thigh strain which kept him out for the best part of two months. Gary Harkins, one of three January loan signings, will partner him up front. David Worrall, another loan signing from Rotherham could make the bench.