Florent Cuvelier tells Walsall: Fight to the finish

The 25-year-old is no stranger to a relegation scrap with the Belgian scoring the goal that saw the Saddlers retain their league status back in 2012.

Now part of the team battling to avoid the drop under new boss Dean Keates, Cuvelier believes this side is technically better than the one that stayed up six years ago.

But he says in their current position, talent alone won’t be enough to keep Walsall in the division.

“Without a shadow of a doubt I think we will be OK,” Cuvelier said.

“When I was here a few years ago I was in a similar position with Walsall.

“I mean no disrespect to that team, but the players we have this year – we have so much ability.

“But it’s not just about ability, it’s about being willing to take a ball in your face or where it hurts if you need to.

“We have to stay together and fight until the end of the season. If we do that, we will be OK.”

Walsall slipped to a 1-0 loss against Portsmouth on Saturday in Keates’ first game in the dugout.

But they return to action today at Bradford, with Cuvelier confident the team can end a run that has seen them lose their last four matches.

“From the first second to the last minute, the Portsmouth game was war,” the midfielder continued.

“That is what you expect with the position we are in. That is the way it is going to be until the end of the season.

“The gaffer was big on us keeping a clean sheet before the game. Looking back at the goal, it could have been avoided.

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have got Bradford away. We have got to go there and get a result.

“We need to get a result. We are more than ready for it.”