Break will do Walsall good says James O'Connor

The Saddlers' early exit from the FA Cup means they are without a game this weekend and, while the break might in some ways be coming at an unfortunate time with spirits high following Tuesday's 1-0 win at Sheffield United, defender O'Connor believes players can use the time off to their advantage.

Walsall are next in action when they visit Fleetwood Town on Saturday week, a game which begins a busy period in which Jon Whitney's team will play six times over the course of 23 days.

"Things like this break can go either way," said O'Connor. "I think if we had been going into this break on the back of a defeat it could have had a big negative effect on the season.

"But we can now use it the other way, clear up injuries, freshen up and go again. Hopefully we can kickstart our season."

Pressure had been building on Whitney prior to Tuesday following a miserable run of results and performances but the victory, the Saddlers' first in six league games, moved them to within three points of the top six.

Amadou Bakayoko's first-half goal proved enough after the visitors withstood a second-half barrage from the hosts, which included Billy Sharp having a penalty saved by Saddlers keeper Neil Etheridge. Though O'Connor is under no illusions as to the improvements which still have to be made in terms of performance, the centre-back believes players showed the kind of attitude which will be required over the rest of the campaign. "The effort from the boys was different class," he said.

"We were obviously defending more than we would like, putting our bodies on the line.

"But you look back at where we were seven days before after losing 4-0 at Rochdale and how low everyone was. You are not going to start kicking a ball all of a sudden start playing great football. It starts with hard work and application and we showed that in abundance. Hopefully we can build on it."

He continued: "You can't expect to go to Bramall Lane and not be under any sort of pressure. I'm not saying we want to be under that much pressure but we have come through it unscathed.

"We were maybe a bit fortunate at times but you have to take that because I am sure it balances itself out over the season. You have to take the good times as well."

Tuesday's win followed a 0-0 draw at home to Southend last Saturday, a game in which O'Connor made his first start since the 1-1 home draw with Coventry a month previously.

The 32-year-old had spent the previous three games on the bench after recovering from injury. He said: "I got a little niggle against Coventry. At that time I did feel I was getting somewhere closer to my best and that as a side we were settled.

"Then circumstances changed. I am not going to lie and say I am not disappointed when I don't play. But I do my job, you crack on and try to be positive.

"Over the last two games we have reacted well to a defeat, a bad defeat, at Rochdale. It's now about kicking on again if you can."