Walsall v Notts County preview: Mat Sadler turns full focus back to league with midfield decision

League action resumes with a crunch clash under the lights at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, with fellow high-flyers Notts County the visitors.

Hosts Walsall put their seven-match unbeaten league run to the test against the Magpies as second welcomes fifth in an appetising fixture in the fourth tier.

The clash continues a mega week for Sadler's troops, with the short trip up the M6 to leaders Port Vale, buoyed by a boosted sold-out allocation, on the horizon on Saturday.

But full focus is on tonight's contest and how the Saddlers can respond from rare disappointment this season - just a fourth defeat (after 90 minutes) in all competitions.

League One Charlton ran out comfortably 4-0 winners at the Bescot as two late goals for the London visitors added some gloss to the scoreline that Sadler felt skewed the story of the second round Cup tie.

"We get to the next game and try and win that, we get into Saturday and try and win that," said Sadler when asked about his side showing a response.

"That is how it is, it’s nothing other than that and we approach them in the same mindset."

The head coach added: "I think there were some good performances throughout the team I must admit, I don’t think it was a 4-0 game personally.

"I thought there were some good performances out there, but on the day we didn’t quite look after our penalty area in the way that we normally do and that was that little bit of quality that they had.

"We brush it off very quickly and move on to a big game.”

The Saddlers have responded well to the few setbacks that have come their way so far this season.

A defeat at Tranmere in August was followed up by successes over Huddersfield in the EFL Cup and Cheltenham in league action.

Sadler's men also bounced impressively from another 1-0 away defeat, at MK Dons, in early September. Saturday's Cup exit against the Addicks was the Saddlers' first taste of defeat since October 1 and the bizarre 6-2 home trouncing by Fleetwood.

In that period Walsall claimed five wins and drew a further four occasions in nine games.

Extending an FA Cup adventure is off the cards for another season for the Saddlers, but with the promise of a challenge at the top of League Two ahead, Sadler is looking for more memories to be created in league action, instead.

“Yes, of course we will," he added about focusing on league goals. "That is what we are here for. We are always trying to win the next game and see where that takes us and that is what we will continue to do.”

Walsall trail leaders Vale by three points ahead of kick-off tonight but do boast a game in hand. The Valiants travel to mid-table Cheltenham this evening.

The hosts will be without midfield duo Jamie Jellis (calf) and Brandon Comley (jaw) this evening, prompting a rethink in middle for Sadler.