Jon Whitney's Walsall out to rival Bristol Rovers for top six
Boss Jon Whitney believes Walsall and Bristol Rovers both have the potential to flirt with the League One play-offs.
Darrell Clarke's side head to the Banks's Stadium sitting ninth in the table – four points behind sixth-placed Fleetwood.
The Pirates are enjoying another successful campaign after winning back-to-back promotions over the past two seasons. But they have lost their last five games away from home in League One.
And Whitney believes his side have taken big strides forward since the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Memorial Stadium back in September.
"I think we have improved since that game," the boss said. "I felt we should have had one, if not two penalties in that fixture.
"But they put us under pressure late on, I think they had 15 corners in the last 25 minutes.
"But our squad has improved and the staff has improved since then. We are a stronger unit now.
"Bristol Rovers are in a good position in the league and I think, being honest, their gaffer will be happy with that having come up last season.
"They have come a long way in just a couple of seasons and I think at the end of the campaign, they will be there or thereabouts – flirting with the play-offs. Hopefully we will be there flirting with them."
Walsall put in their best performance of the season in their previous outing – an emphatic 4-1 home victory over promotion favourites Sheffield United.
But the boss says it's vital they now build on that performance – with a win tomorrow potentially seeing the Saddlers move into League One's top 10.
"The performance against Sheffield United was fantastic." Whitney continued. "And we have kept it ticking over this week. But it means nothing if we don't back it up with a performance. If we can get a win, it can push us into that top 10 which would be a great place to be.
"Bristol can beat teams three or four nil. But they have also been on the end of some big defeats as well.
"They have vulnerabilities, but they also have some real strengths, I can see where they get their goals from.
"Matty Taylor is a threat, as is Ellis Harrison. But we are also a threat. It should be a very good game."
