Express & Star

Josh Gordon: We’ll adapt to playing without Walsall fans

Josh Gordon is confident Walsall will quickly adapt to playing without the backing of their ‘12th man’ during the first month of the season.

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The Saddlers begin their campaign on Saturday when they host Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup first round, but the match will be played behind closed doors. Darrell Clarke’s team face the prospect of playing at least five competitive fixtures before supporters are due to return in October.

Striker Gordon expects the experience to be strange but believes players will quickly find their feet.

He said: “Everyone knows what we have to do. I know sometimes fans help us to have the edge.

“But I think the lads know what is on the line and what we are going out there to do. We just have to treat it like a normal game.

“It is unfortunate we can’t have the fans here. They are our 12th man. But we just have to adapt. The game is still a game and it is a situation where we have to try and get a win. Having these games now in pre-season where we are adapting is good.”

The Saddlers got their first taste of playing at an empty Banks’s Stadium in Saturday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Burton. Clarke’s men round off their pre-season schedule when they visit Blues today, with the visit of Wednesday set to be their first competitive match since March.

“We had a long time off,” added Gordon. “The lads all worked over the lockdown period and I think you can tell on the pitch everyone is looking fit and strong. I think we look good.”