Jon Whitney: Walsall postponement could be a blessing

The Saddlers' League One clash with the Spireites was called off last night due to a waterlogged pitch.

Whitney's men entered the game hoping to win a fifth straight game at the Banks's Stadium for the first time since 2013.

But the boss says his players are now determined to achieve that feat when John Sheridan's Oldham visit on Saturday.

"Chesterfield was a great opportunity to give our fans a fifth straight home win," Whitney said."But we can do it Saturday.

"I felt really confident going into the Chesterfield game but that is all hearsay now. It's given us time to work on our fitness levels and some tactical things. We're now really looking forward to the weekend."

Once receiving confirmation the game was called off, Whitney organised a training session for his players on the Astroturf at the back of Banks's.

"It was important our preparation for Oldham wasn't affected," he continued.

"I wanted the lads to get their boots on still.

"We went out onto the Astroturf and we used the facilities we had to do some fitness work and prepare for the weekend.

"It gave us a chance to start working on Oldham straight away.

"There were some areas I wanted to see improvement in if the Chesterfield game had gone head. But we got work on them on the Astroturf instead.

"It didn't affect our preparation at all.

"We still got the same meters covered. And now were planning for a tough game at the weekend."

Oldham arrive in the Midlands sitting just one place outside the relegation zone.

But Whitney says he won't be taking the Latics lightly.

"They're fighting for their lives," he added. "It's a very tough league – everybody beats everybody.

"We can't get complacent when we talk about playing teams below us, we can't think it's a given.

"We have to match their commitment and then we can play our football."