Pressure on rivals insists defender

Walsall defender Chris Westwood today insisted all the pressure will be on Hartlepool when they entertain Saddlers in a League Two promotion clash on Saturday.

Westwood returns to his former club with the table-topping Saddlers looking to end a brilliant run of form for the home side.

But he believes the weight of expectation will be on Danny Wilson's men as they try to close the gap to the leaders.

"I said at the start of the season that ourselves, Swindon, MK Dons and Hartlepool, the teams who all went down last season, would be up there challenging," said Westwood.

"You only have to look at the table and see that those teams are all at the top of the League.

"I know Hartlepool struggled early on, but they've found their feet now and are one of the best teams in the league.

"It will be tough on Saturday, but we're top of the league and we've coped all season with that pressure.

"Maybe on Saturday the pressure will be more on Hartlepool. They're the home side and they will want to peg us back.

"Like I said, we know what the pressure of being top of the league is like and we've coped with it.

"It will be an interesting game on Saturday, but it's one that I'm really looking forward to."

Westwood's previous return to Victoria Park saw him head the opening goal for Walsall against the club whose supporters still count him as a favourite.

He refused to celebrate as a mark of respect to the Pools fans, but he insists he would love nothing more than a winning goal on Saturday.