Jamie Paterson: Fans are owed a victory

The winger wants to prove a point in Sunday's televised showdown at Shrewsbury after three straight defeats. Walsall have slipped to 11th in League One after two successive losses and a Johnstone's Paint Trophy exit to Port Vale on Tuesday.

Two-goal Paterson urged the Saddlers to rediscover their drive but insisted he will always take points over panache.

"We need to win for the fans, it's a derby game, it'll be end-to-end and we need to be in the right mindset for it," he said.

"It's about getting points on the board. If we go to Shrewsbury and play badly we'll take a win.

"People will start thinking we're going to start slipping down the table but we believe we can turn it around after these last couple of games and go on another little run. If we win the next two then they'll be forgotten about.

"I don't think we pay much attention to what others say about us.

"We know what ability we have and we're hard-working. I'm 100 per cent sure we will turn it around because the players we've got in the dressing room are better than this."

Adam Chambers could return after a six-week lay off with a hamstring injury to boost the Saddlers – who have sold out their 1,400 allocation for the Greenhous Meadow clash.

Paterson admits he is excited about making his derby bow but insisted they cannot get caught up in the hype.

"I've never played a derby game with Walsall before so I'm new to it but I'm sure once you're on the pitch it won't make much difference," said the 20-year-old, who missed a penalty in the shoot-out defeat to Vale in mid-week.

"The atmosphere will be a bit louder and there'll be a few tackles flying in but it'll be the same as any other game.

"We believe we can go there and get the points.

"It's a derby game but I don't think it matters. Once you're on the pitch it doesn't matter, we've got to focus on ourselves."