Andy Taylor expects Walsall to cut down Blades
Andy Taylor believes Walsall have a great chance of extending their impressive record against Sheffield United when the teams meet tomorrow.
The Saddlers are unbeaten in their last seven games against their promotion rivals as they prepare to head to Bramall Lane. Taylor played for the Blades between 2009 and 2012 but made just 45 appearances after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee – an injury which kept him out of action for 15 months.
But now the defender is targeting another victory against his old employers to continue Walsall's promotion push.
"Why have we done so well against them – that's the million dollar question?" Taylor said. "If we knew the answer we would just do the same things and it would be nice and easy.
"I remember playing for Sheffield United against Walsall and it was always a game that we knew would be difficult.
"There are certain games you just know are going to be tough and Walsall was always one of them – an underestimated League One team.
"Now, we are up there, teams are going to respect us.
"We are going to go there full of confidence, on the back of three wins, with a great away record to keep intact and we are going to fight for our lives for the points to put more pressure on the teams above."
One of the biggest teams in the division, the Blades have now been in English football's third tier for five years. And Taylor is surprised they haven't been able to win promotion back to the Championship.
"Every season, you look at them and think it's too big a club to be in League One," he continued. "But it was far too big a club to get relegated – and it happened. I was there and you'd look around at the players in the changing room and think 'we can't get relegated' – but it happened.
"You've no God-given right to get out of this league – it's a tough league to get out of, as they have found out. And this year you would say they are underachieving for a club their size. But they have got seven games to make the play-offs, so it's going to be a tough game."
The international break means Walsall haven't played for almost a fortnight but Taylor feels the rest has been good for the team.
"I think it's worked out really well," he added. "We've looked at it as a good chance to get a bit of rest because it is choc-a-bloc from now to the end of the season. You've got to take advantage of that. We've had a couple of players out with niggles so they have been in with the physios trying to get back fit. It's been a good chance to rest and recover."
