Jon Whitney seeks third Walsall win over Blades
Boss Jon Whitney has challenged his Walsall players to make it a hat-trick of wins when they face Sheffield United tomorrow.
The high-flying Blades arrive at the Banks's Stadium sitting top of League One – with Chris Wilder's side having won each of their last six games.
Walsall though have already beaten the title favourites twice this season, with the Saddlers running out 2-1 winners in the Checkatrade Trophy before securing a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane in the league.
And Whitney insists his team will be doing everything they can to ensure their hoodoo over the Blades continues.
"It's going to be a great game," the boss said. "We have beaten them twice this season and we want to make it a hat-trick of wins.
"They have won six straight games in League One. But we want to stop that run, and we have that psychological advantage having beaten them twice this season.
"My players love playing at Bramall Lane. Now it's on our patch and I'm very confident we are going to cause them problems."
Walsall's league victory at United came back in November and was a backs-to-the-wall performance with the Saddlers having to defend for long spells in the game. But Whitney has vowed his team will be much more offensive tomorrow.
"We are the home team so we have to be on the front foot and take the game to them," he continued. "We will respect them because they are a very good team. They have got good players and strength in depth.
"Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Billy Sharp, Leon Clarke, Mark Duffy, Stefan Scougall and John Fleck. Many of them will feel they can play higher.
"But this is a great occasion for us. It's an opportunity to show that, down the line, we can be similar to them and fighting at the top of the table."
Walsall have a fully-fit squad for tomorrow's game with Matt Preston having recovered from a bout of impetigo and Isaiah Osbourne over a knee problem. But Whitney will monitor his players in training before deciding on his starting XI.
"It's important we try and retain the ball against a team like Sheffield United," he added. "I will be looking at that in training, who can retain the ball and take the pressure off, because I think that is key."
