Forest Green v Walsall - match preview

The duo combined on Tuesday night as Adebayo neatly set up McDonald to curl in the opener in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

Although the Saddlers went on to lose that game on penalties, the team put in a performance worthy of taking all three points.

McDonald and Adebayo have known each other since childhood when they featured together in the Fulham academy and it is that history that McDonald believes bodes well for them.

“I enjoy playing alongside Elijah a lot,” he said. “I’ve known him since I was 11 or 12 so I know where he’s going to be so it’s very enjoyable.

“I’ve got a good connection with Elijah on and off the pitch so I know when he’s in those sorts of areas I can link off him so I’m grateful to get off the mark for the season.

“I work a lot in training coming in off the left and getting shots off so I’m glad that one went in.”

Adebayo has scored once this season, in the 1-0 win over Grimsby Town in the League Two opener.

The striker has impressed leading the Walsall line and after manager Darrell Clarke branded him ‘unplayable’ when he’s on his game, McDonald has echoed that sentiment.

“Elijah is a top player,” he added. “He’s versatile, strong and very good on the deck so he’s improved a lot and he’s still improving, looking to crack on and get some goals.

“I think Elijah knows what he has to do.

“If he needs a bit of a push to get him up for the game because when he’s at his best, he is unplayable.

“I’ve known him since I was 11 or 12 so I know if he needs a little push and vice versa or if his head’s down I know I can pick him up.”

With the Leyton Orient game postponed last Saturday – and rearranged for October 13 – Walsall have only played two league games so far this season.

The win over Grimsby and the 2-2 draw with Harrogate Town has given Walsall an unbeaten start – something McDonald would have taken at the beginning of the campaign.

“We’ve had two league games and we’ve come away with four points so it’s a good start,” he said. “There’s a long way to go, we’d have liked to have six points but four points, we’ll take that.

“Last season I had a decent season so I’m looking to crack on, improve with every game and try and push.”

In the games prior to Tuesday night McDonald had been quieter at times, compared to his usual performances from last season.

Against Harrogate, his team-mates failed to give him the ball for large parts until he found some joy in the second half.

Speaking after that game, Clarke insisted that his side must play to McDonald’s strengths to get the best out of him.

“It’s about getting the ball to him, we weren’t making enough angles to get on the ball,” he said. “I want us to get it down, play it and move it and go and get two or three.

“That’s the way we want to play and we didn’t have enough players taking responsibility to do that.

“There’s no point pumping a high ball into Wes McDonald is there, we were putting too many high balls.

“It was brain dead football to be honest.

“People not taking responsibility will find themselves on the bench.

“There’s competition for places and a hungriness among the group.

“We’re not all negative, it’s a good point and four points on the board and we move forward.”