Tom Bradshaw can fire us to play-offs believes James O'Connor

Bradshaw, who made it 14 for the season with a brace against MK Dons last weekend, will be looking to add to his tally when they entertain Coventry City on Saturday.

Steven Pressley's Sky Blues, who finished the year just two points above the relegation zone, have struggled over the festive period, winning just once throughout December.

O'Connor said: "The lad works hard and he gets his rewards. Every day he's enthusiastic, trying to be better, trying to improve. He rubs off on the other lads. He had a tough time of it last year at Shrewsbury. But he's come in here, he's well-liked by everyone and it's showing.

"He's got that many goals already and to put in the performances he puts in every week is brilliant. He's a bit of a talisman for us I suppose. It's nice to know you've got someone at the top of the pitch who can always put the ball in the net." Victory against MK Dons on Sunday means that Walsall finished the year in 12th position, just three points off the play-offs.

But O'Connor is urging his players to remain grounded and insists that they must take each game as it comes.

"It's almost one of them where it's pointless looking at the table. You've got to just focus on yourself, get your wins together and you'll be up there," said O'Connor.

"Three losses and you're down there, three wins and you're up there. It's really that mad in these leagues. But the former Doncaster Rover defender believes that if the club can put a run of results together then promotion would not be an unrealistic aim.

He said: "The year I was at Doncaster and we got promoted we didn't have the best of starts in December.

"I don't think we were anywhere near the play-offs so if you can put a good run of results together anything really can happen.

"If we can string three or four together then we can be right up there. But you've got to keep each game as it comes."