Jon Whitney targets a Walsall top-half finish
Boss Jon Whitney insists Walsall have no excuse not to end the season in the top half of League One.
The Saddlers return to action from a two-week break tomorrow when they host Oxford at the Banks's Stadium.
With just six games of the campaign remaining, Whitney's men currently sit 14th in the table having fallen to three consecutive defeats.
And the boss has challenged his players to go out and secure a league position that is more reflective of their talents over the next four weeks.
"We are more than good enough to finish in the top half of this league and even higher," Whitney said.
"We have to aim for that. I think we all agree this group of players is good enough to achieve that.
"We had a meeting on Tuesday to set ourselves some targets.
"Myself and the coaches put up some targets. Point tallies, league positions – what we think we can achieve.
"We got the players to do the same and we came to a mutual agreement what is realistic and achievable.
"People keep talking about how we have got nothing to play for.
"But that riles me. We want to win every game. Pride comes into it.
"I won't say what the exact targets are. But we want to finish in the top half.
"I think with the season we have had – the rollercoaster season – we need to finish in the top half and that will be a successful season building for next year."
Oxford arrive at the Banks's Stadium having slipped to defeat to Coventry in the final of the Checkatrade Trophy last weekend.
Michael Appleton's side currently sit 10th in League One, six points ahead of the Saddlers.
And Whitney says he and his players are determined to reel them in.
"They have played a game more than us and they are six points ahead of us," he continued.
"If we can get a win against them then we'll be within three points. That's a great incentive for my team.
"They are very organised, very disciplined. That is how Michael wants his teams to be.
"They will be hurting a little bit off the back of Coventry.
"But they will still believe they have an outside chance of scrapping into the play-offs.
"We have to go and make sure we can catch them. We don't want those clubs in the top half to get away."
