Wes McDonald: Walsall can make play-offs

The Saddlers sit 12th in League Two, and eight points off seventh, after an impressive run of results that has seen them lose only twice in their last 11 league games.

The festive period saw the club win four of their last six league fixtures and McDonald is looking for the side to make a late push for the top seven.

“I think it’s all coming together now,” he said.

“The whole squad was pretty fresh, everyone knows what everyone is about and I think it’s coming together.

“We want to get up into the play-off positions, we had a little blip last week but we want to continue our run.

“Even in defeat we always stick together, we’ve got a good team spirit and we know if it wasn’t good that we’ve got to put it right next game.

“I think everyone thinks we can get into the play-offs and really challenge.

“We’ve got the quality in our dressing so it’s about going out and showing everyone that we can.”

Despite the club’s resurgence in recent weeks, manager Darrell Clarke has been keen to curb talk of a promotion push as he insists the players need to focus on each game as it comes.

“That frustrates me to be honest, you do your talking on the pitch,” he said.

“Wes has been outstanding the last couple of months.

“I can see where he gets it, I’m not digging Wes out here.

“But for me players should do their talking on the pitch.

“Focus on the next game because it can kick you where it hurts.

“Just focus - I’ll have a quiet word with Wes, bless him, and make sure they’re not throwing away comments.

“It’s about improving as a squad.

“There’s 18 games to go and plenty of points to play for and we’ll try and get as many as we possibly can.”