Zeli Ismail wants to keep Walsall's attacking momentum
Zeli Ismail says Walsall are determined to stay on the front foot following their impressive start to the season.
The Saddlers have been the better team in both their opening fixtures – with a win over Plymouth followed by an excellent showing in the draw at Scunthorpe.
Tonight though their attentions turn to the Carabao Cup where they face a Tranmere side who have started the campaign just as well.
After winning promotion from the National League last season, Micky Mellon’s team have taken four points from their opening matches in League Two.
But while Ismail is expecting a tough game, he says the important thing is Walsall continue to build on their early season momentum.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a cup game or a league game – we want to keep the momentum going,” the winger said.
“We’re a team that wants to be on the front foot constantly.
“We don’t want to sit-back and defend. You can’t go through 90 minutes sitting back and expect to win the game.
“At Scunthorpe we should have won the game. Last year they were in the play-offs. For us to go there and be disappointed not to win the game just goes to show our goals and targets.”
Ismail, who won and scored a penalty against the Iron, has been part of an impressive attacking quartet alongside Josh Ginnelly, Morgan Ferrier and Andy Cook.
And he revealed manager Dean Keates has told his forward players to go out and play with freedom.
“Morgan runs the channels really well, Cookie holds it up fantastically and flicks it on for me and Josh,” Ismail continued.
“And he is also a big target man for me and Josh to get balls in the box for. It’s working well.
“He (Keates) wants energy and tempo and in the final third, he doesn’t want us to be robots.
“Yes, we do have a philosophy when he it comes to how he wants us to play. But if we see a better option on the pitch we can take it.”
Ismail also thanked Walsall’s fans for their support at Glanford Park on Saturday.
“The fans were massive,” he added. “As soon as we came out we could hear them. They travelled in numbers and fair play to them because they got behind us and roared us on.”
