Lee Grant: Walsall to keep Swindon 'guessing' with attacking 'flexibility'

Lee Grant is confident that Walsall boast a “flexible” strike force that will always keep opponents guessing.

Aaron Pressley currently leads the way on the goal scoring front and scored his sixth goal of an increasingly prolific campaign with a crucial equaliser at Fleetwood Town last weekend.

Andy Dallas provided the assist in Lancashire and Tai Sodje then seized his chance by scoring his first two goals during the Saddlers’ 3-2 win over Fulham under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

That has presented him with an even bigger selection headache ahead of their trip to Swindon Town this weekend, but Grant has welcomed the competition.

Grant welcomes attacking selection headaches

“I think it’s exciting. Andy Dallas scored such a wonderful goal [against Port Vale last month] and then got an assist last weekend,” head coach Grant explained.

“Tai scored a brace and if Lewis Simper picks his head up in the last couple of minutes then it could’ve been a hat-trick.

“Aaron Pressley got back to scoring form in the weekend just past. It’s really nice to have that competition in there and to have those selection headaches.”

He continued: “We’ve played the same formation plenty of times, but we’ve also played lots of variations across the front-line.

“We’ve had good flexibility. Aaron was played behind a nine last year and then this year he is the nine.

“Andy has a number nine on his back, but he can also be a nine-and-a-half and the No 10. Tai is the same. He can do that from either pocket, or he can do that through the middle.”

Dallas and Sodje have predominantly played as a second striker behind Pressley in the league, although Sodje flourished at the tip of attack in midweek.

And Grant feels that all three strikers offer him great variety in terms of attacking combinations.

“I really like it for the fact that Ian Holloway or any other manager has to think slightly harder about how he’s going to mark or defend,” he added.

“Because he’s not quite sure whether we’re going to be with two strikers, or one, two pockets, or a winger on the left and right. Who knows?

“That’s useful for us and we’ll continue to do that. We’ll just keep trying to figure out ways to get the best, and squeeze as much as we can out of those forward boys.”

Time for Walsall to return to winning ways

Walsall have gone unbeaten in their first nine league games for the first time in 47 years, but have drawn six in the process.

Grant feels Walsall can still improve with their execution, but is confident they have the mentality to keep improving.

“I don’t worry about this group in terms of their mentality because they’re really honest and there’s such little ego,” he concluded.

“There’s a good understanding of what League Two demands and I just think we’ve got to execute better.

“When we have our moments, and we’ve worked really hard all week on how we can create certain scenarios, let’s try to be ready to take them perhaps better than what we have been currently.”