Tom Bradshaw comeback is timed to perfection

With the clock counting down and Walsall on course for a third successive 0-0 draw, there was only ever going to be one man to lift growing gloom at the Banks's.

The 22-year-old's 86th minute minute strike against Fleetwood on Saturday, in his first game back following injury, earned the Saddlers a much needed three points and finally eased pressure which had been mounting for weeks.

"I said all I want is that one chance to just put my foot through the ball and get a shot on target and luckily it came before the final whistle," explained Bradshaw.

"It was one of those games where I felt like a chance was going to come because we kept getting so close. Luckily, it did."

Bradshaw's goal was his 17th of the season and certainly the most important. It opened up a gap between the Saddlers and the bottom four which had been steadily closing and gives them a greater margin of error ahead of tonight's visit from Crawley.

A draw on Saturday would have left Dean Smith's men still desperate for a win against fellow strugglers but a draw would probably now be good enough, while a victory would banish any lingering fears of a relegation fight.

"It was huge," said Bradshaw of the Fleetwood win. "We said before it was as big as the return leg against Preston before we went to Wembley. It was as big, if not bigger.

"To get those three points and to get a goal as well, it was huge.

"They (Fleetwood) had won 4-0 last week and to beat anyone 4-0 at this level you've got to have a bit about you but I thought we completely shut them out.

"We said coming into these two games if we could pick up all six points that obviously it relieves all pressure and we can start to relax and play our football again."

In recent weeks, with results hard to come by and the team sliding down the table, manager Dean Smith maintained his usual cheerful demeanour. According to Bradshaw, that was a policy which worked. I think the management have done well to quell any pressure," he said. "I didn't feel as if it was a high pressure environment.

"Because you have times in football where you don't score for three or four games. It's how you deal with it and I think we dealt with it well.

"Although we weren't scoring we were keeping clean sheets and picking up points and that's what you have to do.

"We want to get as many points and finish as high up the table as we can, just for personal pride if anything."

For Bradshaw, who will make just his 25th league start of the campaign tonight, there is also relief at being back after his sixth spell on the sidelines with hamstring problems.

Hopefully, this time it's for good. It's just something I've got to strengthen and Whitts (Jon Whitney) has been great, he really has, to help get me back so many times and it's massively appreciated," he said.

"The gaffer has said the physio room is completely shut now, it's locked for the summer, so no-one is allowed back in there!"