Paul Downing: Walsall are staying positive

The Saddlers put on an impressive, hard-working display in securing a goalless draw at League One leaders Burton Albion on Saturday.

But while the point was well earned, it meant Sean O'Driscoll's side have won just once in their last seven outings.

Downing said: "The performances keep us positive but we do need to address results because we need to pick up wins.

"But nobody is panicking because we trust our ability and we know we are capable of putting a stretch of victories together.

"Hopefully, that is what we will do starting against Scunthorpe. We need to score more goals and I think eventually, starting tomorrow, we will start scoring more."

Downing believes the performance against Burton was the perfect platform for the week ahead with the Saddlers registering their first clean sheet in the league since the turn of the year.

And the 24-year-old feels defensive solidity will be vital as they enter a week which also includes a home clash with Barnsley.

He said: "They are hard to beat and they do the stuff without the ball better than any other team in the league.

"You have to give them credit because they are top of the league in March and that result will be a platform because clean sheets give you a massive chance to win games."

Despite recent results, Downing is adamant automatic promotion is still the aim for the fourth-placed Saddlers.

He added: "Automatic promotion is definitely the aim. We have got to concentrate on ourselves and we now have a massive game against Scunthorpe."