Richard O'Donnell not surprised to see Saddlers fly
Walsall's flying start to the new season has come as no surprise to ex-Saddler Richard O'Donnell.
The goalkeeper, who enjoyed two hugely successful years at the Banks's Stadium, comes up against Dean Smith's men for the first time tomorrow after completing a summer move to League One rivals Wigan.
One of the biggest clubs in the division, the Latics have endured a mixed start to life in the third tier following relegation from the Championship.
Currently sat ninth in the table, Gary Caldwell's side are six points and seven places below the Saddlers.
But while both clubs have vastly different budgets, O'Donnell always believed the Saddlers would be competing for a promotion place this year.
"I'm really not surprised to see them up there," the 27-year-old said. "Throughout my time at the club there were always signs that we could mount a serious promotion charge.
"It was just a case of being more consistent.
"Last season we just didn't score enough goals.
"Tom Bradshaw got 20 and with his quality he was always going to carry that on into this season.
"But now a lot more players are chipping in. Romaine Sawyers is finding the target more.
"Sam Mantom was a big loss due to injury last season and now he's fit and firing.
"They are realistic contenders for promotion."
O'Donnell is particularly pleased to see the impact Sawyers has made this season, with the Saint Kitts and Nevis international often being deployed in a more advanced role.
"Romaine has real quality," O'Donnell said. "It's great to see him chipping in because he is a great lad.
"He did extremely well last season, the only thing that was missing was goals.
"He would admit that himself but now he is scoring and performing well."
Crowned Walsall's player of the year at the end of last season, O'Donnell still thoroughly expects Wigan to compete for an automatic promotion place.
And he puts his team's slow start down to players taking time to settle.
"We have had a difficult start but the team is packed full of quality," the glovesman added. "It's been a big turnaround of players and it's just taking a little bit of time to gel.
"But promotion is the aim and it has to be with the talent we've got.
"We've had a lot of injuries as well which has also made it difficult to field a settled side.
"But we are picking up points. We should have won more games but there are signs of real positivity.
"Now we just need to kick on."
