Morgan Ferrier happy to be the underdog with Walsall

The Saddlers were tipped as relegation favourites before a ball had been kicked but nine games into the campaign they sit fifth in the League One table.

Despite their impressive start, 11 teams in the division are still shorter odds with bookmakers to win promotion this year.

And that is fine with Ferrier – with the striker happy for people to keep writing off him and his team-mates.

“We are looked upon as underdogs, we like that and we are going to run with it,” the 23-year-old said.

“I feel every day we need to have that mentality – we know people are going to write us off. We just need to know what we can do, as a team and as a club.

“It’s a long old season. We are only nine games in and it’s down to us to apply ourselves as best we can.

“We come in every day and we know we haven’t got the budget of other teams.

“But we work so hard for each other and I think that puts us on an even playing field. We can get victories from being together as a team and as a club.”

Ferrier believes team spirit has been key to Walsall’s flying start to the campaign.

But against Doncaster, the striker was involved in an angry brawl with team mate Luke Leahy.

Ferrier though insists the matter was resolved as soon as the game finished.

“To be fair, out of all the lads Luke is one of my best mates,” the forward added.

“He is one of the lads that has made me feel most welcome.

“We have a laugh and a joke every day. Tempers flared up, but straight away we got it sorted. The gaffer pulled us together and got it resolved.

“Stuff like that happens in football. It’s a competitive sport. Nobody wants to lose.

“Against Doncaster we weren’t at our best. Emotions got the better of us. But we move on and you could see how together we are at Oxford.

“When I scored, Luke was the first person who congratulated me. It gets like that sometimes, you have just have to stick together for the long run.”