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Walsall manager Darrell Clarke looking forward to home 'atmosphere' as Port Vale look set to bring 2,400 fans

Walsall manager Darrell Clarke is welcoming the challenge of play-off hopefuls Port Vale as the visitors look set to bring around 2,400 fans.

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The Stoke-on-Trent club sold more than 2,050 tickets yesterday and with hundreds left of their increased allocation, there could be as many as 2,400 supporters making the short trip to the Black Country tomorrow.

But Clarke is looking forward to a good atmosphere at the Banks's Stadium as he insists his side need to give the home fans more of a reason to cheer.

“You like an atmosphere at the football games, that’s all we want," he said.

"I must say I don’t think we’ve given our home fans enough to cheer about.

"I think we have away fans who have followed us up and down the country but I don’t think we’ve given enough of those home performances that can get our crowd lifted.

"Albeit I think it’s a good starting point against Northampton, how we finished the game, so we’re hoping it sets up to be a good atmosphere for both sets of fans."

The comeback 3-2 win over Northampton topped off a positive week that also saw the club beat Forest Green and draw with Newport in two tricky away fixtures.

That came off the back of a three-game losing run and while Clarke is pleased with the 'emphatic' response, he is now putting it to the back of his mind ahead of the Port Vale clash.

“It puts behind us that disappointing week that we had where we had Carlisle, Morecambe and Crewe, where we didn’t pick up a point," he added.

"The response has been emphatic, seven points out of nine with two tough away games in that mix and coming back from 2-0 down.

"Pats on the back for that but as the saying goes – chip paper, done isn’t it?

"Same as the week before where we didn’t pick up any points but you go onto the next game very quickly and that’s what you’ve got to do."