Michael Ngoo backed to shine for Saddlers

The 21-year-old striker is yet to net for the Saddlers since his deadline day loan move from Liverpool.

Ngoo hit the post in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Crewe and has come close to ending his drought on several other occasions, having a penalty saved against MK Dons and almost snatching a late equaliser at Preston earlier this month.

Saddlers boss Dean Smith has reiterated his faith in the big hitman and believes it is only a matter of time before the goals start to flow.

"Michael has hit the post on Tuesday and could have had four goals," said Smith. "He was inches away from scoring against Preston and had a penalty saved against MK Dons.

"He could have had three or four goals at the moment. Once one goes in I'm sure a lot more will come in. That's the same for a few others at the moment.

"His work-rate is brilliant and his attitude is fantastic. He knows he wants to score goals and we want him to score goals. That is what we are lacking at the moment."

Smith's sentiments were echoed by winger Febian Brandy, who has been impressed with Ngoo's all round game.

"We have seen what he is capable of doing in training," he said. If he gets a goal under his belt he will be flying.

"He's a big guy but he can dribble with it."

Ngoo is not the only forward who has struggled for goals during the current eight-game winless run, in which the Saddlers have netted just five times.

They were saved from a fifth straight defeat on Tuesday when Crewe's Mark Ellis put through his own net. Brandy hopes they can use the 1-1 draw as a stepping stone heading into Saturday's trip to Rotherham.

"I know some of the lads are disappointed we did not pick up all three points but I think the main thing is we didn't lose," he said.

"Hopefully we can use this as a stepping stone to put in a good performance on Saturday. If we get three points against Rotherham hopefully we can push on from there."