Purkiss: Walsall must start fast in JPT decider

The full-back has more experience than anyone else in the Saddlers dressing room of what it's like to carry a lead into a semi-final second leg.

Twice when playing for York City, in the FA Trophy and Conference play-offs, Purkiss found himself in that same position.

Twice they scored first in the second leg and twice they were victorious.

It means Purkiss has a 100 per cent record to protect when the Saddlers take their shot at a first-ever Wembley appearance against Preston in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

"If we score first on Tuesday, it will make a huge difference," he says. "I played for York against Luton in the play-offs and we were the underdogs.

"We won the first leg 1-0 at our place and we scored the first goal in the second leg.

"We had to weather the storm for 15 minutes and managed to score - it took the wind out of their sails.

"Similarly, I played in the FA Trophy in a two-legged semi-final against Telford and we won the first leg 2-0.

"Going back to or place it was important for us to start at a tempo. Again we got the first goal and again you could see their shoulders slump."

The experiences have left Purkiss in no doubt Walsall's best plan of attack on Tuesday is to go straight for the jugular.

Smith's side may have the cushion of a two-goal lead but Preston will take confidence from the chances they created and Purkiss insists this is no time to be found lacking in conviction.

"It's a massive night for the club and everyone is aware of that," he said. "We have to go out and treat it as a normal game. We have to take the game to them - we can't just sit back.

"If you do that you see what happened last weekend at Colchester. We invited pressure and if someone has that much concentrated pressure, they will end up creating a chance."

Walsall should be significantly more rested than the visitors, who have played twice since the Saddlers came off the field at Colchester nine days ago.

"There are different ways of looking at the break," adds Purkiss, who returned to the starting line-up for that game.

"The way I see it is we've had three or four days to address any problems and get into the normal routine.

"I'm happy with it as it gives you a few days to work on things and I think there were things to work on after Colchester."

The Johnstone's Paint Trophy run has captured the imagination of the town and the Saddlers will be backed by a sold out home section.

Purkiss has no doubt the players will relish the atmosphere but admits they must also play their part in bringing the crowd into the game.

"It makes a massive difference, we want them to get behind us," he said.

"But it works both ways. If there are 10,000 Walsall fans there, we have to give them something to cheer about.

"We have to be ready for it and we have to take the game to them. You prefer to play in front of a sell-out.

"At Colchester we were playing in a game with not much atmosphere and sometimes it can be a little bit tricky.

"But the Banks's, on a Tuesday night, under lights, everyone is looking forward to the game."

The Saddlers will also be looking to end a run of three straight defeats which has coincided with a strong record on the road.

Their erratic form has also included numerous wins against League One's strongest teams and Purkiss, who has tagged the team "coupon busters" in the past, is taking heart from that.

"Before the win at MK Dons I knew I wasn't playing I was on the bus and the experts had MK as a banker.

"I looked at it and thought - that's dangerous, because every time we seem to do well. "Sometimes I don't like to look because sometimes they do fancy us and I think, ah no.

"But when they don't I think we have a chance. I fancied us against Scunthorpe because they had been on such a long, unbeaten run.

"Obviously, that did not quite go to play but we know we can beat anyone and I just need to find that consistency again.

"I feel we had it for a period and just lost our way a little bit in a couple of games. I think last Saturday at Colchester was a decent platform."