Walsall vs Blackpool: Studious Luke Leahy is reaping rewards

The 25-year-old has been an integral part of a Saddlers side that has taken 13 points from their first five matches in League One.

A former winger, Leahy has often impressed going forward.

But it is defensively where the full-back is now earning praise from fans following a series of committed displays.

And the former Falkirk man revealed he spent the summer looking at ways to improve the defensive side of his game.

“I’m pleased with the start I have made,” Leahy said.

“I knew it was important that I worked hard over the summer.

“I watched plenty of games back to see where I could improve and be better.

“It’s paying off for me at the minute. I feel I have improved a lot and I’m full of confidence at the minute.

“Hopefully now I can keep impressing people.”

As well as improving defensively, Leahy has also been a much louder presence in Walsall’s back-four this season

And he said that is something else he has worked on.

“That is something I have tried to bring to my game a bit more.” Leahy continued. “When I was watching games back, I felt I was too quiet and within myself.

“But even if you are having a bad game, you can still help others around you by talking.

“I think if the back four is loud, the opposition strikers know they are in for a tough game.

“We have got Nicky (Devlin), whose Scottish, so he is loud anyway!

“Jack (Fitzwater) is young but very composed. And Jon (Guthrie) is a leader.

“Robbo (Liam Roberts) behind us is also very loud.

“The whole back five is very vocal and I think that puts us in good stead for the season.”

Leahy will be part of the Saddlers side aiming to continue their flying start to the season when they host Blackpool tomorrow.

Walsall enter the game having won their last three matches in League One – a run that includes back-to-back away wins at Wimbledon and Rochdale.

And the defender feels the team showed a different side of their character in those victories.

“I think you did see a different side to us against Wimbledon and Rochdale.” he added.

“In the first couple of games we were very attacking, the front four were frightening. But in those games, everyone has had to put a real shift in. We have shown a lot of character. We showed a nasty side and that there is a real togetherness in the dressing room.”

The opposition: Typical tale of turmoil for the Tangerines

Blackpool will arrive at the Banks’s tomorrow managerless and amid their usual off-field turmoil, yet having made a relatively solid start to the season.

A haul of six points from five games can never be described as spectacular. It is somewhat impressive, however, considering the circumstances in which the Tangerines have found themselves.

Gary Bowyer quit just one game into the campaign, having grown weary of continued political battles after two years at Bloomfield Road which included an impressive promotion from League Two.

Blackpool’s ownership issues have been going on for so many years they can often be difficult to track from afar.

Put simply, they are still in limbo, with octogenarian Owen Oyston still clinging on to power, nine months after being ordered to pay former director Valeri Belokon after he and his family were found by a judge to have ‘abused their powers’ as majority shareholders.

Supporters who have, for several years now, been boycotting home games in protest at the Oyston’s running of the club, had hoped that might lead to a speedy sale. That has not been the case.

Left without a training ground this summer, Bowyer was at one point paying out of his own pocket in order for the squad to train at a site in Preston.

After watching key player after key player walk out of the door, the former Blackburn boss eventually decided enough was enough.

His assistant, Terry McPhillips, has performed admirably as caretaker. The 49-year-old is now clear favourite to be given the role full-time, though clearly this is not a club fond of long-term planning.

He certainly has the support of skipper Jay Spearing, who said: “Terry’s told us from day one he is here to commit and work as hard as he can. We’re right behind him.

“We just want clarity at the end of the day. We have had a meeting with a few of the senior lads about going forward.

“With everything that is going on at the club, we just need to concentrate on the football side. But we need a bit of commitment and a bit of stability over who is going to be gaffer.”

The future of former Gornal defender Curtis Tilt has been the source of much speculation over the summer. The 27-year-old has been continually linked with Ipswich.

The Boss says:

'The lads were down after Macclesfield because they’ve not tasted defeat this season. But there will be no hangover.'

Memory Lane:

Marvin Robinson netted twice as Walsall beat Blackpool 3-2 in December 2004. Jorge Leitao was also on target.

The Key Man:

Zeli Ismail scored on his last three appearances before being sent off against Rochdale. Saddlers’ most creative force.

The Dangerman:

Nathan Delfouneso

Tipped for stardom when coming through the ranks for Villa, Delfouneso is now in his second spell at Blackpool. Scored his first of the season in last week’s 1-1 draw with Accrington.