Neil Etheridge: Team spirit is the key to success at Saddlers

Neil Etheridge believes Walsall's togetherness and team spirit is what sets them apart from their promotion rivals.

The in-form Saddlers host Rochdale today having won their last five games in League One.

Etheridge has been key to that success with the goalkeeper having now gone more than six hours since he last conceded a goal.

And the Philippines international insists the club's feel-good factor will continue to win them points.

"The team bond that we have here and the personnel that we have in the dressing room is fantastic," Etheridge said.

"It's one of the best, if not the best dressing room I've been in. We have got such a great bunch of lads who are a good laugh in training and a great laugh off the field.

"But when it comes down to a Saturday or a Tuesday – you can see 100 per cent is given.

"We know exactly what it takes to keep ourselves where we are now.

"And there isn't one player in that dressing room who wants to stand still and be like 'OK we are top of the league in 2015'.

"We want to be there at the end of the season in 2016."

The atmosphere between the players is also something that has impressed new head coach Sean O'Driscoll.

"It's been joy working with these players," O'Driscoll said.

"We went down to Millwall on the day, Boxing Day. We got on the coach and the electrics had blown so we couldn't have a drink.

"I have been at clubs where that would lead to moaning and groaning. But the lads here just get on with it, that has been refreshing and something I have enjoyed."

Meanwhile, the transfer window opened today with clubs throughout the Championship continuing to be linked with a move for star strikerTom Bradshaw.

Huddersfield, Wolves, Preston and Birmingham are all thought to be keen on the 23-year-old. But Walsall are known to want to keep the forward who has 18 months left on his contract.