George Bennett brings you the latest from Mat Sadler's pre-match press conference as Walsall take on Gillingham.
Sadler's men have suffered a rocky run of form lately - as they look to move a step closer to promotion.
They still sit top of the League Two tree and welcome Gillingham to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday night.
Sadler's men have suffered a rocky run of form lately - as they look to move a step closer to promotion.
They still sit top of the League Two tree and welcome Gillingham to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday night.
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00:00Walsall will be back at the Beskar under the lights on Tuesday night as they welcome a struggling Gillingham with the aim of returning to winning ways.
00:14It's been a spectacular season for the Sadlers. Top of the table and boasted a 12-point lead as early as just over a fortnight ago.
00:26But a bump in the road which has heralded three defeats in four games, four without a win, has seen that lead cut in half to six points and it feels now that home form is going to be more important than ever.
00:43It's three successive away defeats. Walsall had equalled their points tally away from home with the 2-1 victory over Notts County on New Year's Day but they've not picked up a single point away from home since which is a major concern.
00:59But hopefully home comforts can provide Walsall with some rest by ten games without tasting defeat in front of their own supporters in the league which dates back to the 6-2 defeat against Fleetwood Town on October 1st.
01:15So important that Walsall maintain that home record as they look to keep that League Two title charge on track. Still six points clear. Walsall really have the luxury while they're facing this drop in form of boasting that healthy cushion at the top of the table.
01:41But clearly the rot needs to stop and it'll be a concern if they fail to do so against the Gillingham side who find themselves in dire straits. Nine games without a win, they've dropped to 19th place now.
01:55John Coleman was appointed as Mark Bonner's successor at the start of January and is still searching for his first win. The third lowest goal scorer is in the division and Coleman's post-match press conference after their 3-0 defeat against Barrow on Saturday was an intriguing watch.
02:16Labelled it as a disgrace, apologised to the supporters, talked about a lack of fight, a lack of desire, addressed the fact that things need to change, accused the players of taking a lack of care and a lack of responsibility and described it as one of the worst performances he had seen in his 25 years of management.
02:40So he was pulling no punches whatsoever in his comments at the end of that match. Back onto Walsall, obviously Taylor Allen will be suspended. Picked up that second yellow card on what was his 100th appearance for the club in Essex.
02:56Came out and apologised on his own accord after the final whistle but he will obviously serve that one-match suspension on Tuesday night which could present an opportunity to Evan Weir and a deserved opportunity.
03:11Been restricted to just two league starts so far this season. Obviously came in from Drogheda United back in the winter last year but returned to Drogheda on loan and then joined up with Walsall in pre-season.
03:27Had some joint cup competitions but found himself really second in the pecking order in that left centre-back slot so it's an opportunity for him to come in and stake a claim. Been impressed by what I've seen from him actually in his performances.
03:41Impressed in the 2-1 win over Notts County on New Year's Day with a miraculous goal-line clearance to prevent Alassane Yata's effort from trickling over the line and then set up Nathan Lowe's winner.
03:57His opportunities since have still been limited but made a big impact off the bench in the previous game at Bescot as he set up the first of Danny Johnson's point-rescuing brace as Walsall came from two goals behind to draw 2-2.
04:15So very interested to see how he is going to do. There's question marks over whether the likes of Conor Barrett, Jamie Jellis and Ryan Stirk have run out of steam. Played a lot of minutes this season and it's worth remembering as well that Barrett and Jellis are in their first full seasons in the EFL.
04:34Not especially in Barrett's case, been able to hit the heights that they previously did a little bit earlier in the season. Will Mattsad love freshening things up? Harry Williams was left out as a precaution due to tendonitis in the knee on Saturday. Struggled with it in training last week.
04:56So he could come back in after sitting out the game against Colchester. Elsewhere, the attack remains as contentious as ever. Jamil Matt came back on Saturday, came off in the 65th minute for Albert Adoma. Matt Sandler talks about the fact that he had the next game in mind really, trying to manage his minutes as he works his way back to full fitness.
05:24So, you know, it'll be interesting to see whether he makes a start in line-up again. And then, yeah, I mean, sort of your guess is as good as mine really with who will partner him. It was Ellis Harrison the other day. Wheatley and Josh Gordon partnered each other up front against Salford. Both were left out of the squad on the weekend.
05:44So, yeah, very much sort of striker roulette going on there at the moment, but lots of options for Sandler to mull over and hopefully over the sort of coming games, he can find some consistency and continuity in the attacking line to get Walsall back to the heights that they were setting not so long ago.