Mullen wants a full performance

Walsall boss Jimmy Mullen has told his players they need to start performing for 90 minutes ahead of the visit of Northampton on Saturday.

The Saddlers entertain the Cobblers looking to end a five match winless run, which has seen some disappointing second half displays. Walsall have slipped to 13th in the League One table during their run and Mullen knows they need to start performing for entire games.

He said: "As a group all of us have to realise that when the referee blows his whistle for 45 minutes, the job is only half done. Our biggest problem which we are finding at the moment is sitting down at half time.

"We do not seem to be coming out in the second half in the manner we should be doing. We have got to realise the game is 90 minutes not 45 minutes and the job is not done at half time."

The second half no-shows in recent home defeats to Peterborough and Hartlepool have left Mullen scratching his head as to why his side have failed to perform after the break.

Mullen said: "The last two home games we were disappointing against Peterborough in as much we did not come up to expectations. Against Hartlepool we were terrific to go in at 2-0 up at half time.

"We have got to see it through right to the end. I don't know whether it is losing concentration or whether we are sat down at half time and the momentum is taken away from us."

The visit of Northampton represents a chance to return to winning ways with Mullen able to pick from a fully fit side. Captain Stephen Hughes could start after missing the last three games with flu.

Rhys Weston is also back in contention after being left out of the squad at Leeds.