Dean Keates wants leaders to save Walsall

A 3-1 loss at Doncaster on Saturday – the Saddlers’ fourth successive defeat – means they remain in the relegation zone with just six matches to play.

Keates’ men were made to pay for a disastrous opening four minutes at Keepmoat Stadium with a John Marquis penalty and a Mallik Wilks strike putting Donny in the ascendancy.

Josh Gordon did pull a goal back for the visitors but a Danny Andrew free-kick secured the win for Grant McCann’s promotion chasers.

Now Walsall face six crunch games to save themselves from the drop starting with the visit of Oxford on Saturday. And Keates has called on his players to prove they have the mental toughness to avoid the drop.

“We’ve got a six-game season – it’s still tight down there and we’re playing teams around us,” the boss said. “The lads are well aware of the situation we are in and they know we have the opportunity to get ourselves out of it.

“But all the other teams will be thinking exactly the same thing. It will be the same in every camp.

“We have to make sure we look after ourselves. Our players need to stand up and be counted. That’s everybody. When they cross that white line they have to start leading and being big, strong characters.”

Walsall sit in the relegation zone on goal difference and are only three points behind 16th placed Bristol Rovers.

And Keates admits the match against Oxford on Saturday is a huge one for the football club,

“We have to address four defeats on the bounce now,” the boss continued. “We have got a massive game against Oxford. It’s at home and we have to make sure we go out and get something for the football club.

“All being well that is three points.”

Walsall had youngster Joe Slinn on the bench at Doncaster with Keates confirming the keeper was recalled from his loan at Rushall Olympic after Chris Dunn fell ill.

“We had one or two ill with a sickness and stomach bug last week, I think it was Dunny’s turn,” he added.