Walsall's Caolan Lavery is learning the lessons of defeats

The Saddlers have been on two losing streaks on two separate occasions this season, denting any hopes of a late play-off charge.

Although the 27-year-old cannot nail down the reason for these dips in form, Lavery insists he has used them as fuel to turn it around.

“It’s tough to put your finger on it, otherwise we would have stopped it after the first one,” he said.

“For whatever reason, any team in any division can go on runs of not winning games and we as a group need to figure that out.

“You don’t want to go two on the bounce, you don’t want to go three on the bounce so of course we don’t want to go four on the bounce.

“So yes it’s motivation to set it right.

“Every game in this division can be tough, it depends who wins the fight on the day.

“So I don’t think it really matters about scrapping for points or teams at the top of the division, every team is going to give you a tough test.

“We went on such a good run and it was really positive in the dressing room, around the ground and away trips were brilliant.

“The last few games haven’t killed that mood or that positivity but it’s disappointing because we all want to start winning football games again.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Danny Guthrie has expressed his frustration after a ‘stop-start’ season for the veteran.

The 32-year-old returned from a calf strain in mid-January and has restored his place in the squad since.

It was his fourth injury of the season, after twice being sidelined with a knock to his hip, and once to his hamstring.

“It’s really frustrating,” he said.

“I get into good form and then I break down a little bit and it’s two weeks again – I come back and you have to get back into the swing of things.

“I don’t think there’s many Tuesday night games left anymore which will help me so I’m hoping now to stay fit for the whole season.

“It’s not easy and it’s probably coming back too soon sometimes, trying to help the team – It’s been a bit stop-start.

“You do everything you can to stay fit because you want to help the team.

“We’ve got quite a young, inexperienced team and you want to help the lads so I just do everything I can do stay fit.”