Ben Purkiss is urging Walsall to be ruthless
Defender Ben Purkiss has urged Walsall to "go for the throat" in next Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area Final second leg showdown with Preston.
The Saddlers stopper believes the Saddlers must take the game to the visitors, as they look to secure a first ever Wembley appearance in front of a sell-out crowd at the Banks's Stadium.
Dean Smith's men hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg but Purkiss insists sitting back on that would be the wrong option.
He said: "We can't be complacent. We will be heading into the game after 10 days off and we have to go and take the game to them.
"That is part and parcel of the game at home, playing with a tempo and getting forward when we can, being positive and proactive, getting our wide players on the ball and going for the throat.
"We have got to get back to doing that at home."
The Saddlers will also be looking to end a run of three straight home defeats.
By contrast, they have won their last three on the road and Purkiss admits their up and down form is hard to fathom.
He said: "Three weeks ago you would probably have said we were brilliant at home. Right up to the Swindon game you would have said we had a really good home record.
"In contrast, we didn't win away for ages. I don't think there is a magic formula.
"It has been bizarre. I wouldn't say I thought we had cracked it but on the run-up to Christmas I felt we were starting to build a consistency.
"From consistent performances you get results.
"You can maybe have one or two off days when you get something but you can't have three or four on the bounce or you get punished.
"I think we have to find the consistency again. Where that comes from is individuals, realising what makes them good players and how they can contribute."
