Jon Whitney confident of ending Walsall hoodoo

The Saddlers have won more home matches in 2017 than any other side in League One. But they are also without a win away from the Banks’s Stadium this calendar year.

Whitney’s men arguably should have ended that record on Saturday before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

The boss though is confident a first victory on their travels is just around the corner.

“We are getting there – it’s just a matter of time,” Whitney said.

“I felt we deserved it on Saturday. But you don’t always get your rewards in football – it can be quiet cruel at times.

“What you have got to do is keep the belief in the team. And collectively and individually I think we have got a strong group.

“We will now work tirelessly to try and get that win on the board at Rotherham on Tuesday.

“We have the best home record in the division. Not many teams win every game home and away.

“But we are not doing too much wrong. We are coming away from home and we are making teams fight for every point.”

Despite falling to defeat at the Memorial Stadium, Whitney was pleased to see James Wilson net his first Walsall goal when he powered home a header from Joe Edwards’ corner.

“It’s good to see him get that first goal,” the boss continued. “He is a danger. He does that in training all the time. He is a real threat going forward.

“It was a well-worked set-piece but I thought we were a threat throughout the game. We have to be a threat from open play and from dead balls and I think we are at the moment.

“Bristol Rovers was a strange one. But as soon as that final whistle blew I was looking forward to Rotherham.

“We got knocked down but I was back up ready for the fight and the players were exactly the same.”