"Bravery" - Walsall loanee highlights key foundation behind positive start

Declan Skura believes “bravery” has been the main foundation behind Walsall’s positive start to the season under new head coach Lee Grant.

The Wycombe Wanderers loanee has started every game for Walsall so far and has helped them register an impressive three successive clean sheets across all competitions.

Walsall followed back-to-back wins at Bristol City and Gillingham respectively with a hard-fought goalless draw against Grimsby Town in Grant’s home debut at Bescot on Saturday.

“I think that is our main foundation: bravery. The way we want to play, the way we defending, the way we compete for all the balls,” Skura said.

“It’s all about being brave and having belief that you’re going to win all of your duels.

“That is the main thing that we look at ourselves everyday and operate with that bravery and belief.”

Isaac Moore was rewarded for his goal-scoring cameo from the bench at Gillingham with his first league start, as he partnered Sven Sprangler in a double pivot.

The 20-year-old, on loan from Coventry City, continues to show exciting early signs, while Sprangler is fast emerging as a very shrewd pickup from Scottish outfit St Johnstone.

Sprangler has injected experience into a new-look team and has struck a fine balance between combativeness and intelligence.

The pair have brought more physicality into the centre of the park and Skura has highlighted just how important a role they play in helping provide the defence with security.

“You should see their running stats after the game. Those two run around, winning second balls, and it’s brilliant for us at the back to know we have that security,” Skura added.

“It gives us a lot more confidence to go and win things when you’ve got them around you.”