Darrell Clarke: Walsall can't take Carlisle for granted

The Saddlers will be the in-form side when they welcome Chris Beech’s side to the Banks’s Stadium tomorrow.

Thursday’s 2-0 win away to Scunthorpe gave Walsall four points from two away games at the start of the festive fixtures.

It means Clarke’s team are undefeated in six games with only one loss coming in their last 11 matches in all competitions.

They welcome a Carlisle side winless in their last six league games, with their last victory coming on November 2.

Despite the Blues’ poor form, Clarke is still expecting a tough game.

“Like I’ve said before, League Two is very tight with the top teams,” he said.

“I think we put in great performances away at Swindon and Exeter and then against Forest Green Rovers at home where we played very well again back in August.

“I think you’ve got to appreciate that just because teams are on bad runs, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to be tough opponents.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game but we have got to reset ourselves now and refocus.

“We’re in on the 27th and the 28th and we will be ready for the game on the 29th.

“We’re working away and chipping away just to try and get as many points on the board that we possibly can.”

Carlisle sit 22nd in the League Two away table, while they sit 21st in the full league table.

Walsall have struggled at home this season, however, and sit 22nd in the League two home table, compared to their 15th place in the full table.

And Clarke believes his side need to improve their home form.

“I think the two wins at home is the reason why we aren’t in the top half of the table,” he added.

“I need to give the boys some credit though, we haven’t seen a defeat since November 2 in the league, it’s just one defeat in 11.

“So we need to give the boys a massive pat on the back for that.

“Let’s not get too carried away with it because there is still a lot of work to be done, we know that, but it’s now all about trying to put in a few decent home performances to cheer our home fans up.

“That’s what it’s all about isn’t it?

“Football is a fans game and I know that they will be there in their numbers cheering the boys on and we will be trying to build on this momentum that we have at the minute.”

Teams

Walsall (4-4-2): Roberts, Facey, Clarke, Scarr, Pring, Kinsella, Bates, Sinclair, McDonald, Gordon, Lavery.

Subs: Rose, K.Roberts, Sadler, Holden, Guthrie, Adebayo, Gaffney.

Carlisle (4-2-2-2): Collin, Hayden, Branthwaite, Webster, Jones, Carroll, Jones, Sagaf, Scougall, Thomas, Hope.