Express & Star

Darrell Clarke looking to make ground at top after Saddlers’ solid start

Walsall manager Darrell Clarke is aiming for an early charge on the top seven with a win over Leyton Orient tonight.

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Following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Colchester United, the Saddlers are still unbeaten in League Two this season, having put in several impressive performances.

With one win and three draws, Walsall can turn a decent start into a good one with three points tonight.

A win would move them into seventh in the division and despite it still being early in the season, Clarke wants to cement his place at the top.

“We have a game in hand and the opportunity to try to get into the top seven early, although it’s only our fifth game.

“It’s a tough test and we take the positives out of this performance.

“We reset ourselves and be ready to go.”

With a packed schedule of games this month, Clarke has hinted that he may make several changes for tonight’s clash as he insists he does not fear throwing anyone into the starting XI.

“It’s what I keep reiterating, Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday for the foreseeable future,” he added.

“That’s a lot of games, a lot of minutes. We haven’t got a big squad so we’re going to have to manage those minutes.

“There’ll be a big advantage for teams that can keep less injuries in the squad this season.

“It’s going to be difficult but we’re not going to complain, we’re going to get on with it. We’re really pleased that we’re playing football, we want to be playing football with a crowd in but we’re really pleased that we’re able to get on with our jobs.

“I don’t fear putting anybody in the team, they all have different attributes.

“The balance of the squad is quite decent, so every player in my squad knows they can be playing.

“They’ll be more changes made, potentially, on Tuesday night. We’ll see how things are.

“But they know they’re not far away from getting 90 minutes and with that, the intensity and training environment is spot on. There’s a real good edge about the training and good competition for places.

“That gets the training levels up because players know at any given time they can be in the starting XI.”

Echoing his manager’s comments, midfielder Liam Kinsella is eager to take advantage of their game in hand.

“We have a game in hand and after this performance we’ll be confident going into that one,” he said.

“Fingers crossed we can get something out of that game and hopefully move us up the table.

“It’s frustrating that it’s another Tuesday game, but we’ll be positive and be confident going into the game.

“If we play like we did (against Colchester) we can create opportunities and put the game to bed.”

Meanwhile, Kinsella was keen to praise Saturday’s goalscorer Elijah Adebayo, who has made headlines for his superb displays this season.

“The way he ended last season, he was brilliant and he’s started this season with outstanding performances,” Kinsella added.

“He helps us link the ball and his defensive work is brilliant as well, hopefully he can take that on throughout the season.

“He’s confident, he’s making opportunities and he’s been outstanding. He’s started the season very good.

“The backroom staff are helping him out a lot, putting the confidence in him and he’s taking it into the games now.

“In training you can see what he’s about, he’s brilliant, and now he’s taking it into games which helps us.

“He’s still a young lad, coming into first team football and he’s adjusted well.”

Clarke has also been pleased with the way the striker has developed in the last year.

“I’ve said a lot of things to him, I’m sure Eli will be very, very honest in that,” he said.

“That’s my job and my coaching staff’s job, to make sure we get the best out of certain individuals.

“He’s a lovely kid, a real nice kid from a real nice family background but sometimes he needs a slap.

“Those slaps are less so nowadays. He’s bullying my centre-halves in training and he’s starting to bully a few centre-halves in League Two, which is exactly what we want. That certainly hasn’t happened overnight.”