‘Best team in the league’ – Lee Grant on Walsall’s Salford test

Lee Grant says Walsall are “excited” by the challenge of facing the “best team in the league” when they host League Two leaders Salford City at Bescot on Monday evening.

Salford recovered from a slow start to collect six league wins on the spin, which has propelled them into a three-point lead at the league summit.

Walsall currently sit sixth in the table, but can climb into second-place with maximum points.

‘Best team in the league’ - Grant on Salford

“We know we’re really challenged on that in our next one,” head coach Grant said.

“Best team in the league, best budget in the league, top players and a good manager.

“Wow - what a test, what a challenge. We’ve got to take that on and it was a really good lesson for our group in the last two home games on those challenges.

“We’re meeting them head on. Port Vale was a significant one, Oldham is a significant one for different reasons off the back of their best performance.

“Got to take the next challenge on, which will be tough, but there will be an excited group looking forward to it.”

Salford spent big in the summer with the signings of ex-Walsall defender Dan Scarr, winger Luke Molyneux and striker Macauley Langstaff.

Former fan favourite Taylor Allen, who is on loan at Salford, will also make his Bescot return with the visitors, while ex-loanee Nathan Asiimwe is also on loan with the Ammies.

On Salford, Grant added: “I’m in the early stages of my time in this division myself and I can fully understand why [it’s hard to get out of League Two].

“Salford have found it difficult over the last couple of years even with everything they have available to them.

“This year, they’ve probably gone again really in terms of putting the hammer down and saying ‘we’re doing this’ because they can.”