Southampton v Walsall: Mat Sadler's Saddlers in better shape for FA Cup tie
- Published
Mat Sadler's Walsall have won six of their past seven games
At first glance it may look a thankless task for Walsall in Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at Southampton.
They take on a Saints side unbeaten in 18 games under Russell Martin, who sit third in the Championship - some 56 places above Mat Sadler's Saddlers.
But the League Two side have upped the gears themselves and head south on the back of a great run of form.
"We've had some tough ties to get here and we're going there to prove people wrong," Sadler told BBC Radio WM.
Coming off the back of the Christmas home wins over Crewe and Wrexham, followed up by Monday's 6-1 drubbing of Grimsby Town at Blundell Park, Walsall will be happy to be back beside the seaside again.
But with a busy treatment room and barely any time to train, Sadler says those performances have taken a toll - and he could be without midfielders Joe Riley (knee) and Ryan Stirk (ankle) and strikers Ross Tierney (hamstring), Aramide Oteh (hamstring) as well as first-round replay hero Jamille Matt (groin).
He also has teenager Ronan Maher cup-tied, having played in a previous round for Rushall Olympic - while 10-goal top league scorer Freddie Draper has been recalled by Lincoln City,, external as had been mooted.
A month is a long time in football
At the beginning of December, when the draw was made, Walsall were 19th, just six points above the League Two trapdoor, had won only three of their opening 11 home games and were facing a tricky FA Cup second-round replay with non-league Alfreton.
But a month is a long time in football.
They warmed up for that cup replay with a stunning 2-1 win at promotion-chasing Notts County, before beating Alfreton and then Tranmere Rovers too, both 1-0 and both glossed by winners from much-travelled striker Matt.
They then stumbled to defeat on the Saturday before Christmas at Accrington - but those back-to-back home wins over the festive period, against Crewe and high-flying, big-spending Hollywood darlings Wrexham, were then followed by the New Year's Day mauling of the Mariners. That was the club's biggest away league victory in 76 years, as well as a sixth win in seven games.
Isaac Hutchinson's Blundell Park double on Monday took his season's goal tally to 11 in all competitions
In contrast to the mood of negativity engulfing Bescot at the start of December, it has all been enough to send them marching into Saturday's date with the Saints with real hope.
"It has been a really positive month," midfielder Isaac Hutchinson told BBC Radio WM.
"We've grown in belief with every game. There's an extra level of belief now.
"And we've had a chance to get a bit of rest in this week, give some a chance to recover after such a busy stretch and think about what's ahead."
Hutchinson's double on Monday, the first another entry in his own private goal of the season contest, took him to 11 in all competitions.
"I don't really care how they go in," he said. "But the odd worldie is nice."