Walsall boss Darrell Clarke: Get behind Rory Gaffney

After scoring only one goal this season, in the 2-1 loss to Swindon in November, the Irishman has since had a break from the starting XI. He played 80 minutes in the 2-0 win away to Scunthorpe on Saturday, but struggled to make an impact.

In the minutes before Gaffney’s substitution, the travelling Walsall fans were chanting for him to be taken off and, when he was replaced, the fans responded with ironic cheers.

“Rory Gaffney was getting quite a bit of stick from the fans when I brought him off, but I would urge my fans to get behind all of the players at the club,” he said. “Josh (Gordon) came off against Exeter with a bit of a tight hamstring and he has missed a training session this week with that and I thought it was the right time to give him a bit of a breather.

“It’s a squad game and I urge our supporters to get behind the team.”