Tom Bradshaw staying positive for Walsall
Striker Tom Bradshaw believes staying positive is key for Walsall after pointing out the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
The 21-year-old admits there was plenty of frustration in the dressing room following Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat to Yeovil.
But the former Shrewsbury ace, who bagged his second goal of the season in the losing effort, believes any over-reaction at the uncertain start to the season would be foolhardy.
"I think the league table is a bit misleading at the start of the season," he said.
"Although it's nice when you are in the top six after the first two or three games, it's very misleading.
"Teams can have a 10-game winning streak at the start of the season and capitulate and then end up in the relegation zone at the end of the season.
"I've always been told that it's a marathon not a sprint, the season.
"And I think it's important that as a club, as players, as fans that in our minds we try to stay positive.
"We are a good team and we will go to places and score maybe three or four.
"We are just staying positive as a club."
Nevertheless, Tuesday's defeat to the Glovers – which followed a largely frustrating 0-0 draw against Bradford last Saturday – bore some all too familiar hallmarks to home performances near the end of last season when the Saddlers' campaign, that at one stage looked as if it was heading for the play-offs, rather petered out into a mid-table finish.
In that respect Wales Under-21 international Bradshaw, who was one of several summer signings by manager Dean Smith when he penned a two-year deal at the Banks's Stadium, says he can understand fans' frustrations.
"I completely understand where the fans are coming from," he said. "I think a lot of teams are going to come here and bank up because they know how well we can move the ball.
"And that's up to us to crack it basically. I think other teams are scared of the way we can play and the way we pass it so that's why they just sit in.
"But yeah, I can completely understand why the fans can get frustrated at the home games and as a club and as players we will try to rectify that and get the three points at the next home game."
