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James Wilson: Walsall will put away form right

Walsall will learn from their mistakes and quickly rectify their away form, defender James Wilson has declared.

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The Saddlers travel to take on Rotherham tonight having so far failed to win on the road in 2017.

That elusive first victory should have arrived on Saturday when, despite controlling the game, Jon Whitney’s side slipped to a 2-1 loss at 10-man Bristol Rovers.

And Wilson says the Saddlers are now determined to rectify that result at the New York Stadium this evening.

“Rotherham is our chance to rectify what happened at Bristol Rovers straight away,” the 28-year-old said.

“We were all gutted after the game on Saturday.

“The gaffer said to us afterwards there were a lot of positives to take out the game.

“But at the same time, the way the defeat happened, it was very hard to take.

“We know we have got to do certain things better. After they went down to 10 men, we needed to move the ball quicker.

“But at the same time we were on top of the game. That’s why it was so disappointing not to get at least a point.

“That really hurt the lads. We were going to Rotherham to win anyway, but the Bristol Rovers game has given us even more incentive.”

Wilson insists Walsall’s disappointing away record isn’t playing on the minds of the players.

“It’s not good enough,” he said.

“We need to look at it. But we’re not going into games thinking we’re not going to win away from home.

“I don’t get that feeling at all.

“We are just as confident away from home as we are at the Banks’s. Thing just haven’t fallen for us yet.

“I think everyone can see we are close. We have been really close a couple of times and that’s what makes it even more frustrating.”

The away record aside, Wilson has been part of a back three that has largely impressed this season.

And he feels his success – along with fellow centre-backs Shaun Donnellan and Jon Guthrie – stems from everyone buying into Whitney’s 3-5-2 formation.

“We have looked solid and I think we can take a lot of confidence from that,” Wilson continued.

“We are going to make mistakes – there were mistakes at Bristol Rovers.

“With the formation we play we are going to get countered at times.

“The manager has put a lot of trust in the formation and a lot of trust in us as players.

“And the lads have really bought in to it. That’s the main thing.

“We are all giving everything.”

Wilson netted his first Saddlers goal on Saturday after powering home a header from a Joe Edwards’ corner.

But while he was delighted at the time, winning games is his only concern.

“I was buzzing at the time,” the former Bristol City man said.

“It’s always nice to get your first goal.

“But we didn’t win the game so it doesn’t really matter.

“I’d much rather get one at Rotherham that helps us secure three points.

“It’s going to be a tough game. They have just come down from the Championship.

“They are a strong team. But we know we can hurt them.”