Goal ace Joe Edwards is wary of Walsall complacency

The 27-year-old midfielder bagged a brace to fire the Saddlers to a 4-2 victory over Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday.

That improved Walsall’s recent record to seven points from the last nine available as they moved up to 15th in the League One table – and Edwards wants to maintain that level of consistency now.

“Our aim now is to keep this running going,” he said. “That is what we want to achieve and that is what we have lacked over the past 18 months.

“We have got quality in the squad, but there have been times we have let a little bit of complacency creep in and we slip down again. That has really let us down, but we know that. But we have put a run together now and we want to take the confidence from that to improve our consistency.

“If we can do that, we will push up the table.”

The Saddlers had slipped worryingly close the the relegation zone before sparking this three-game run by beating MK Dons a fortnight ago in a game boss Jon Whitney had claimed was ‘a six-pointer’.

And though Walsall have proved their character by pulling out a result just when they need it – not for the first time this season – Edwards does not want to be back in that situation.

“That’s the most frustrating thing for us and the fans as well,” he said. “We have put runs together. But then we haven’t backed it up enough for us to be higher in the table.

“That is what our goal is now. Seven points from these three games is a good return. We have won three on the bounce at home as well.

“If we can keep this form going and push up the table it will be a much more positive end to the year.”

And Edwards hopes the Saddlers’ form will allow their belief to start flowing in upcoming big games against Gillingham, Blackburn and Peterborough.

“We have always known we are good enough but it’s still nice to see a few results going our way now,” he added. “We have always said we need to be more consistent throughout the season. Hopefully now we can make that happen.

“We have got a young squad, when you are winning games – in the way we did against Doncaster – it can give them confidence and belief.”