Dean Keates: Walsall players have made strides this season

The Saddlers travel to the Stadium of Light for their FA Cup second round replay off the back of a dramatic late win in League One that leaves them five points off the play-offs.

And boss Keates has reminded supporters of how far some of his players have come this season after their first league win in six.

“We needed a win, it didn’t matter how it came,” said Keates. “We’ll take a scruffy win. It’s massive was for us, it settles the nerves.

“We’ve hit a bit of a plateau, you can hear the moaning and groaning around, the lads are getting frustrated as well.

“But what the fans need to understand is a lot of players have come a long way in a short journey.

“Some have come from non-league and the lads who have been in the league have not really been consistent players in their team, week in, week out.

“Players are getting up to 20-odd games this season when they’ve never really played that before.

“So there are going to be ups and downs throughout the course of the season and we are not getting carried away with ourselves.

“As I’ve stated from day one, it’s about us getting to 52 points as quick as we can get there and the three points against Coventry are gratefully received.

“Now we’ll get ourselves ready for Sunderland and try to give a great account of ourselves and the football club.”

Tonight’s match is the third time Walsall have played Sunderland in just over three weeks, and the other games finished level.

But this is the first time the Saddlers will visit the Stadium of Light, after hosting the Black Cats in both league and cup.

“For the lads it’s an unbelievable arena,” said Keates. “There will be a massive turnout from their fans.

“But it’s something we don’t have to fear. We need to embrace it and go and play.

“We will be able to play good football there. The pitch will be great and we will make sure we aren’t as scrappy on possession as we were against Coventry.”