Darrell Clarke: Walsall fear no-one despite our poor form

After the 3-0 loss to Cheltenham on Saturday, the Saddlers have now lost four games in a row – including two in cup competitions.

Although fans have expressed their anger at the current rut the squad find themselves in, Clarke is adamant that the pressure to do well comes from within as his side will not fear playing high-flying Newport.

“There’s always pressure in every game,” Clarke said.

“Nobody can put the pressure that I put on myself anyway, that’s by the by.

“Mine is a pure frustration because I believe this group is underperforming, that’s my frustration.

“You want to get yourself into that top 10 and top seven as quickly as you possibly can and I think we’ve missed good opportunities already this season.

“I don’t fear playing anybody, I really don’t.

“Respect to Cheltenham, they’re going well, but I certainly won’t fear playing any team in this division because I know I’ve got the capabilities in the squad.

“They have to show it and we have to start winning football matches.” A key word for Clarke after recent results has been ‘better’ and although he believes this squad is capable of producing more, he has called on them to show it.

“The lads are having a good go for me, I just want them to be better,” he added.

“That means more work, don’t feel sorry for ourselves and take the stick that comes with losing football games.

“At the end of the day we have to focus on turning that around very sharply with another game on Tuesday night.

“We have to stick together and keep believing. Keep ironing out the things we’re not doing so well. I need a lot more from them.

“I believe we have the firepower at the football club, I really do, but we have to be more consistent.

“It’s not always the strikers, the wide players have to do better, the attacking midfielders have to do better.

“The delivery from crosses by the full-backs has to be better.

“There’s a lot of areas, in that area of the pitch, where we have to be better. Looking at the Southend game, in the first 15 minutes we get five good half-chances.

“These are the fine lines in games where we’re not getting that bit of quality to score a lot more goals. That’s been the focus.”

James Clarke returned from injury off the bench against Cheltenham and could return to the starting XI tonight.

Josh Gordon is still on track to return next month following his medial knee injury, while George Nurse is still expected to miss out.

“George Nurse has a tendon injury,” Clarke said.

“He’s an important cog for us, he started his spell at Walsall very well, but he still looks a couple of weeks away which is frustrating.

“The good news is that Josh Gordon is back in jogging, so we’re hoping he’s not going to be too far away.”

Young midfielder Joe Willis, who has yet to feature for the first team this season, has been injured since October after breaking a metatarsal bone in his foot.

The 19-year-old is still recovering and has not taken the next step in his rehab.

“We’re getting more assessments on Joe with his foot fracture,” Clarke added.

“I’m not sure how quickly bones heal but he’s nowhere near the grass as things stand.”