Chris Marsh: Trust Walsall to put a downer on things...

I went on holiday last week. My wife and I booked a trip to New York shortly after I had my brain haemorrhage a year-and-a-half ago.

We wanted something to look forward to. But while the trip was great, the Saddlers still managed to put a dampener on things. We left after the 1-0 win over Bury and I honestly thought we’d be safe after that.

But now the bookmakers are tipping us to go down and I’m worried, seriously worried.

In my mind, Bury, MK Dons and Northampton are as good as relegated. I’m sad to see the Cobblers drop because they are one of my former clubs.

And now the scrap is on to see who will join them in League One.

It’s going to either be us, Oldham or Rochdale. Since March, Rochdale have been in very good form.

They have beaten us, Shrewsbury and Rotherham amongst others.

And out of their four remaining games, three of them are at home where they always have a chance.

That doesn’t bode well for Walsall.

Oldham have two games at home and two games away.

On paper, they all look winnable – with Richie Wellens’ men taking on Northampton on the final day.

And then there is us, who face three away days in our final four matches.

It’s hard to be optimistic but there are some positives. Walsall still have their fate in their own hands.

And while it’s going to be difficult to get anything at Scunthorpe on Saturday, the fixtures list after that isn’t too bad.

Northampton at home is must win. Nothing else will do. And by the time the Saddlers get to Bradford and Fleetwood, both teams will be on the beach.

What I want to see now is a right reaction from the players for their trip to Glanford Park.

A lot has been said and written about the way they collapsed against AFC Wimbledon.

But if they have got anything about them, they will have been expecting that and understand it. There is no excuse for what happened on Saturday and there is no hiding from it.

The players have to step up.

And there is no point in any of them moaning about the soft penalty the Dons were awarded in stoppage time.

When you are down there, those decisions go against you. You run out of luck and you have to scrap your way to safety.

That’s what the players have to do now. Forget performances, it’s all about results.

Whether you came through the youth ranks, are a permanent addition or on loan, every member of Walsall’s squad knows the consequences of the next few games.They have to give everything in a bid to get us out of this mess.

And the fans – I’m bored of saying it – but we have to believe.

We have to do everything we can to help them get over the line.