Nicky Devlin: Walsall still aiming high

The Saddlers travel to Peterborough tomorrow on the back of a frustrating fortnight that saw them beat Coventry and Sunderland before getting thumped at struggling Bradford.

That performance at Valley Parade left manager Dean Keates fuming, with the boss reading the riot act to his players at full-time.

And Devlin admitted it was particularly hard to take with the team having seemingly picked up some momentum.

“The manager has made it quite clear to us that kind of performance is not acceptable,” Devlin said.

“We had come off the back of two good results and got our worst result of the season.

“Now it’s the Christmas period. We have got a lot of games.

“And I’m sure most managers will tell you it’s a time when you either push on or fall back depending on how you deal with it.

“For us it’s all about finding a level of consistency. We have been up and down for too long.

“If we can find that consistency it will take us up the table. With the exception of Portsmouth, I don’t think anyone in the league has really put a run of results together.

“If you do, you are going to find yourself in amongst it at the right end of the able.

“There will be teams below us feeling the same way. If they can get four or five results they can push in there.”

Devlin says there is nothing for Walsall to fear in League One.

“I just don’t think there is much between any of the teams,” he continued.

“I honestly think it’s about on the day and who turns up and plays better. Our problem is that, in both boxes, we have come up a wee bit short.

“But we have to go into every game to win it because, bar Portsmouth, there is nothing to separate the sides.”

Peterborough enter tomorrow’s game sitting fourth in the League One table.

But they have won just one of their last five outings in the division – with the other four matches all ending in draws.

And after Walsall’s poor display in Yorkshire, Devlin says the Saddlers players are determined to go to London Road and get a result.

“When you get a result like Bradford the first thing you want to do is get back on the pitch,” he added.

“I think a game on Tuesday night would have been perfect for us. We need to get back out there.

“You are only remembered for your last result so the boys want to get out there as quick as we can.

“It’s been a tough week, but we know we now have real chance to push on and make it a good season for everybody.”