Tom Bradshaw will be back for JPT crunch says Walsall boss Dean Smith
Top scorer Tom Bradshaw will return from injury for Walsall's big cup clash at Tranmere next week to hand a big boost to a side that boss Dean Smith admits are lacking goals.
Walsall continued to plug on gamely without their nine-goal leading marksman by claiming a point in a goalless draw at Coventry on Saturday.
But it was the seventh time in ten games they have failed to score when Bradshaw has been missing.
And Smith admitted the striker's upcoming return after almost a month out with a hamstring problem will be a welcome one.
Smith said: "We know there's a lack of goals and that becomes a concern if you are not creating chances.
"But we keep creating chances – we are just not taking them at the moment. It's another point, five games unbeaten and a number of clean sheets among them and we've got Tom coming back for the next game against Tranmere as well – so things are on the up for us.
"Tom will definitely be back for the next game," he confirmed, "Coventry just came a little bit too soon for him."
Bradshaw has an extra few days to work back to full fitness, with Walsall enjoying a free weekend due to their early exit from the FA Cup.
It means they will be fresh for the JPT trip to League Two strugglers Tranmere next Tuesday night. And Smith admitted: "We've had a lot of games recently and, while I'd rather be in the Cup, I think the rest comes at a good time for us."
City manager Steven Pressley insisted the Sky Blues' performance merited all three points.
"It was a really tough League One game against an in-form Walsall side," he said.
"They have the best defensive record in League One and you can see why. But I thought after the opening 20 minutes we had control of the game over long periods and we certainly had the vast majority of possession and pressure.
"We worked exceptionally hard and we put them under a lot of pressure."
