Eight days a week makes Walsall's hat-trick

With three games against genuine title contenders, Paul Downing is not about to disagree.

Yet neither does the 23-year-old centre-back feel it will be season-defining. At a club with a long-term plan, the need to see the bigger picture is continually preached.

The Saddlers' rise from joint bottom less than two months ago to four points outside the play-offs has been as marked a turnaround as their post-February collapse last season, when bright hopes of the top six were rapidly extinguished.

Interestingly, it appears the memory of that slump helped keep things in perspective during this term's indifferent start.

"I think that is why we didn't get carried away at the start, because we knew there were still a lot of points to play for and a lot of games," said Downing.

"It is such a long season in League One and after Christmas you have got to be ready to pick up points and get on a run.

"You can climb the table because it is so congested. In the busy period now, we want to pick these points up and get up the league."

Walsall's improvement has been reflected in Downing's growing stature at the heart of what is now League One's best defence.

The Saddlers have conceded 17 times in 20 games, a statistic which looked nigh on impossible to achieve after they conceded four in one night at Rochdale in mid-September.

Downing was perhaps fortunate not to be dropped following that game but, like the rest of the team, faced the challenge head on.

His performances of late have been marked by consistency, his partnership with James Chambers in the centre of the defence growing stronger by the game.

Meanwhile, as vice-captain he continues to emerge as a leader and a player who can be relied upon, as his winning partnership in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy thriller at Tranmere showed.

"The penalty was a pressure moment but probably since Andy Butler left the club I have tried to take on a bit more responsibility," he says.

"(Captain) Adam Chambers is buzzing around the whole pitch and can't be everywhere to do it.

"We have to shoulder responsibility and I think I have taken that onto my game this season. The settled team, and a settled back four, has helped.

"We had a lot of injuries at the start of the season and I was playing with a lot of different people.

"I think this season I have gradually improved and I'm starting to get some real consistency to my performances.

"It's about keeping that going, trying to be a leader out there. We've got the defensive record which we want to try and keep. It's just a case of keeping going.

"There are lots of things I've learned but I'm coming up on 100 appearances now for Walsall and I am one of the more experienced players.

"You learn from each game different experiences and you try to take that into being a better player and on the training ground work on weaknesses.

"I feel I have improved massively each year."

The Saddlers will hope to extend a six-game unbeaten league run tomorrow. Downing added: "I think we are gaining momentum.

"We want to keep the run going but also finish strongly because it is after Christmas when the points matter the most.

"I think people started to maybe doubt us a little bit when we were on the bad run but we have picked up and have a settled team now with goals coming from everywhere. We need it to continue."