Walsall first team coach Darren Byfield explains key reason behind strong start

The Saddlers recovered from a shaky start under Sadler to propel themselves into League Two play-off contention but ultimately fell five points short of the top seven last term. 

This season, Walsall have catapulted themselves into second spot after collecting 27 points from their opening 14 games in the fourth-tier. 

They also reached the EFL Cup third round for the first time since 2015 earlier in the campaign and remain in both the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

And Byfield insists patience has been the key ingredient to Walsall's form and that supporters are finally beginning to see what a "Mat Sadler team" is capable of. 

"Honestly time," he responded when asked what the biggest difference has been from last season.

"Everybody has to realise that it's the gaffer's first job. He's brought in his staff, we've all got to get used to what the gaffer wants and what's needed. 

"Players, relationships, from staff to players and from players and staff. That's the biggest thing - time. 

"Now you're seeing a Mat Sadler team but we also know that we haven't done anything yet and we'll continue to work hard to bring some success this season however that looks." 

Walsall retained a strong core of the team from the previous campaign while making a number of shrewd additions such as Connor Barrett, Charlie Lakin and Nathan Lowe. 

But the goalkeeping department underwent a complete overhaul in the summer with Jackson Smith and Owen Evans both departing alongside goalkeeper coach Dan Watson.

Dan Still has since replaced Watson and Tommy Simkin has established himself as an exciting young talent between the sticks on loan from Stoke City in the early stages of the season. 

Sam Hornby has also provided reliable cover in the EFL Trophy but Byfield reiterated that hard work remains the biggest driving force behind Walsall's early success this season.

"Dan Still has come in. I watch him work, I'm obviously nothing to do with the goalkeepers, usually they're the enemy because we're trying to score against them," he joked.

"But his attention to detail, his work ethic is something else. He has been superb with them and we just have to keep going. That's all of us and we drive each other. 

"That's the staff and the players drive themselves. There's a healthy relationship between the players and staff. We're desperate for success. We really are and we know that comes from hard work. 

"The moment we don't have that, we won't get to where we want to go to. So we'll continue to do it, we'll look back and say we gave our all. That's what we'll do."