Cambridge v Walsall: Saddlers hoping to down the high-flyers

The Saddlers arrive in the Fens winless in five games under new manager Brian Dutton and without a victory in six consecutive games in total.

Their slim play-off hopes have dwindled as they now sit 15th in League Two.

A hard-fought point against Exeter in midweek, however, saw Walsall end their losing streak and Sinclair believes that first win for Dutton is not far away.

“It’s a massive game but to be honest we probably do better against the better sides,” Sinclair said.

“Every game is a huge game and there’s not much between the sides. A little bit of magic or a mistake and you’re picking up a win at Cambridge away.

“Keep building, keep working and pushing the lads forward and we’ll be OK.

“Everyone can beat everyone, we don’t go into the game thinking because they’re second in the league it’ll be super-tough. Every game is super-tough.

“If you’re at the bottom you’re fighting for your life.

“We have enough quality in that changing room to win football matches. We need to work out how to do it.

“The gaffer has been working with us and I’m positive that will come.”

Despite sitting in the automatic promotion places Cambridge fell from first to second on Tuesday following a 1-0 loss to Scunthorpe, who now sit 18th in the division.

That result epitomises the tough nature of the league and Dutton says it is unwise for anyone to bet against his Saddlers side.

“It’s a league where you wouldn’t be rushing down to the bookmakers to make a bet, would you,” Dutton said.

“Anyone can beat anyone on their day and we take every game on it’s merit. It’s another opportunity for us to try and get a win. We can’t go into our shells, we have to stamp our authority in games.

“You can’t take any team lightly in this league, whether it’s bottom of the league or top.

“We’re in for a tough game whoever is in town. We need to get that solid platform behind us to allow the lads to build on it and create opportunities off the back of it.

“Once you go a goal down in games you start chasing them and it becomes very stretched from our point of view.

“The attacking side of it is something we’re obviously working on as well but first and foremost we have to stop the leaky goals.”

As Dutton searches for his first win as boss he is seemingly also searching for his best team with some experienced players underperforming.

Wes McDonald and Dan Scarr were unused substitutes on Tuesday, while Josh Gordon started on the bench and came on at half-time.

Villa loanee Tyreik Wright has kept his place for the last two games since returning from injury and is expected to stay in the team.

Jayden Reid played the first half against Exeter but failed to have an impact, while Derick Osei Yaw was not involved in the squad after starting – and failing to impress – on his first start for the club on Saturday.

When asked if Osei Yaw was injured or left out of the squad due to his performance, Dutton said: “Everybody is available but if you don’t take your opportunity then we have players patiently waiting in the wings for their opportunity.

“You have to go out there and perform and if you don’t it’s a case of coming away, reflecting, and understanding why you haven’t performed. Getting to work on the training field, improving and making sure next time you come in you can take your opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Dutton has revealed captain James Clarke is 'very close' to returning from his knee injury and that Rory Holden is not far behind him.

"We have had a lot of frustration with injury this year, our captain has been out for a long period and a superstar in Rory Holden has been out.

"We need these guys back fit, strong and ready to finish the campaign.

"It's no good rushing them back and then breaking down again. James Clarke is very close but is somebody that needs to get up to speed with the rigours of League Two. We can't have people managing their bodies and coasting through fixtures.

"Rory is a little bit further away than James Clarke but the good news is he's out there on the astro turf training by himself.

"Every day is a massive step for him. They'll soon come back to fitness because they prepared their bodies correctly while they've been out injured. They've eaten the right foods and done the right rehab.

"We're expecting Rory to make really quick strides."

When asked if he still expects Clarke and Holden to play again this season, Dutton added: "Yes, for sure, as long as there's no issues with their rehab.

"I expect them fairly soon."