Express & Star

Dean Keates: Keep up Walsall momentum

Boss Dean Keates has challenged his players to build on their impressive form as they get set for a tough run of games.

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Following a comfortable 2-0 win over Fleetwood on Saturday, the Saddlers are now unbeaten in their last three matches. Now the Saddlers face a gruelling run of games that sees them host Portsmouth tomorrow before then taking on fellow promotion hopefuls Sunderland, Barnsley and Doncaster.

“We’ve got a tricky run coming up and we will deal with it game by game,” the boss said.

“It’s seven points from nine. We are pleased with that.

“We are going in the right direction but you can see how tight the table is.

“After Tuesday night, it could be a totally different picture being painted after the game. We have shown a little bit of form but we want to build on it.”

Walsall have injury doubts over midfielder Joe Edwards and winger Matt Jarvis for tomorrow’s game.

Jarvis joined the Saddlers on loan from Norwich in January having not played in over two years following a series of knee and ankle injuries.

He has since appeared 10 times for Keates’ side but the boss revealed the winger has picked up a minor ankle injury that is nothing to overly worry about.

Edwards, who recently returned from a year on the sidelines, came off in the win over Fleetwood with a minor knock.

“We’ll see Jarvs (Matt Jarvis) again soon,” Keates said. “It is possibly a problem with his ankle.

“But it is nowhere near as bad. We think it will settle down in a few days.

“Joe came off against Fleetwood but he was just walking wounded. I expect him to be available for tomorrow.”