Jon Guthrie: Walsall to build on momentum

The Saddlers welcome Stuart McCall’s side to the Banks’s Stadium on the back of a run that has seen them beat Oldham before drawing at Portsmouth.

Those results arrived after an opening day defeat at Bury for Jon Whitney’s side.

And Guthrie believes Walsall can be pleased with the opening month of the campaign – so long as they secure a second win tomorrow.

“Things have gone well recently on the game front and we’re now looking to build on that.” the former Crewe defender said.

“We were disappointed with the performance against Bury and the first half against Oldham.

“But from then on it’s been very positive. I think everyone can see improvements game by game.

“Now we want that to continue. It’s Bradford tomorrow. They’ve finished in the play-offs the last two years and they’ll be aiming to do that again.

“But we don’t fear anyone. We went to Portsmouth to win and were disappointed to come away with a draw. Now we want to make it back-to-back wins at home.”

Despite being disappointed to come away from Fratton Park with just a draw, Guthrie believes Walsall showed their character on the south coast.

“I think you saw at Portsmouth how together the group is,” he continued.

“It’s a hostile atmosphere and after they scored the equaliser – I think a lot of teams would have folded.

“Their fans lifted their spirits but we held firm. And towards the end we could have nicked it. I think that shows the strength that exists in the group.”

Following the defeat to Bury, the Saddlers have switched from playing with a back four to a back three with wing-backs.

And Guthrie admits he is enjoying lining up alongside Shaun Donnellan and James Wilson at centre-back.

“It’s a talented group,” he added.

“It’s a new back five and keeper. We have had to gel quicker than usual and we are still getting to know each other’s game.

“But I think it is working well.

“Willow (Wilson) has played the system a lot in his career so he talks us through it.

“He has been stepping out with the ball a lot and that is something I want to improve on because I see myself as a ball playing centre-half.

“And Shaun has done amazingly well. He signed on the Friday before Oldham and came straight into the side.

“He is only young but he has settled into the team straight away.”