Anthony Forde finds consistency at Walsall

Anthony Forde's might be just the latest.

Of all those in the Saddlers squad, the Irish winger is arguably the most improved since the arrival of Sean O'Driscoll as head coach.

He's found the consistency lacking during his first 18 months at the Banks's Stadium, following his move across the Black Country from Wolves.

For much of that time, Forde remained something of an enigma, a player whose flashes of potential were maddeningly infrequent.

Until recently, the 22-year-old's best run in a Saddlers team came early last year when he helped fire them to Wembley with an unforgettable free-kick at Preston.

But, after the anti-climax of the final, Forde found himself out of team and had to make do with mostly substitute appearances during the first-half of this campaign until O'Driscoll's arrival on the scene.

Forde explains: "Near the start of the season I would be in a game and the next one I might not play then I'll be back in again.

"When you play a few games consistently your sharpness comes back and you can obviously kick on and do what you know you're capable of."

Nine of Forde's 16 starts this season have come since O'Driscoll was appointed head coach in December.

And he went on: "You know yourself when you're playing well, so I don't go into games thinking I need to do this or that.

"You probably try as much but you're relaxed in yourself enough to play well."

Forde reckons his decision to leave Molineux, where he made six appearances in the Premier League during the 2011/12 campaign, has been fully vindicated.

He said: "I've become a better and stronger player, mentally and physically. You learn as you go along and the experience of last year has helped me going into this season.

"Getting that year's experience in the league has helped because I know now what it's all about."

Unsurprisingly, Forde is relishing the prospect of tomorrow's game with Wigan and confident the Saddlers have the maturity to cope as the promotion race heats up.

He said: "We just need to take it as we have so far, it's what has worked for us and what's got us here. We'll only look at each game as it comes as we have all season.

"We won't change anything or do anything differently just because we're heading into the final third of the season. We'll keep doing what we do because it's got us into this position."