Ben Purkiss: Walsall are 'coupon busters'

The Saddlers upset the odds as they became the first visiting team to win at Highbury Stadium in more than nine months.

And Purkiss revealed how manager Dean Smith used the chance to prove both the bookies and punters wrong as motivation for his side's second straight away league win.

It came following on from an equally impressive victory at Notts County earlier this month. "I think coupon busters is the cliche," said the defender.

"Sometimes I read on Twitter pundits working out their accumulators and I always quite like it when they back the other team.

"I saw that before Saturday and I saw it before Notts County as well. We went there and the gaffer used it as motivation.

"I think we rose to the occasion and thoroughly deserved the win."

Romaine Sawyers got the only goal of the game in the first half as the Saddlers claimed a 1-0 win.

Purkiss added: "The manager emphasised how well they did at home and he did say he fancied us, so did we in the dressing room.

"We have some good players but we have had fitness issues and a heavy load of games over the past few weeks.

"Saturday was all about digging in and putting in that last effort before a midweek off."

Saturday's win was the third in four league games and Purkiss is keen to see them continue the run.

"We have been on a good run in the league but I glanced at the table the other day and thought, actually, we need to kick on as we are not where we want to be," he said.

"We are still not where we want to be but three points on Saturday was a step in the right direction."