Walsall have been transformed, says Scott Laird

After an inconsistent start to the season, the Saddlers have improved dramatically in 2017 and now sit just six points outside the League One play-offs.

Laird was on target on Tuesday as Walsall secured a sixth successive home victory against relegation-threatened Chesterfield.

And the Scunthorpe loanee admits he is delighted with the progress the team is making.

“I think, as a team this season, since I’ve been here, the progression we’ve made has been unbelievable,” he said.

“In every area of our game we have improved.

“We are a totally different team now to even three months ago, a totally different animal.

“We are so hungry and it’s great to be a part of.”

Walsall’s victory over the Spireites ensured they registered a sixth consecutive win at the Banks’s Stadium for the first time in 10 years.

And Laird says the current Saddlers side is enjoying breaking its own records – after last season’s team narrowly missed out on promotion despite amassing 84 points.

“It’s a great record to have and records are there to be broken,” he continued.

“I think, for us, as a new team that the gaffer has brought together – after the great success they had last year – it’s taken a little while to get it going so it’s great to have one of those records under our belt this season.

“And it’s a great time to hit a run of form going into this business end of the season.”

Laird says upturn in form has enhanced the feel good factor around the club.

“It’s a great place to be,” he added.

“You can see the fans, at set-pieces, they get up off their seats.

“That feeds onto the pitch and the players really do feed off that.

“It’s great, the little feeling of togetherness from fans to players to the media guys, everyone is coming together and starting to believe that we can maybe go on to achieve something special.”