Danny Guthrie: Settled squad is key for Walsall

The Saddlers host Exeter tomorrow still unbeaten in League Two.

This time last year, manager Darrell Clarke had overseen one of the biggest squad overhauls at any club in the country with 16 players arriving at the Banks’s Stadium and 16 moving on.

This summer has been a lot more settled, though, with Walsall making just five new signings – with two of those returning loanees Rory Holden and Jack Rose.

“We spoke about the fact we have now been together for a while when we came back for pre-season,” Guthrie said.

“We watched other clubs make big changes but we had been through that the year before.

“We knew how difficult that is to manage and how difficult it is to get that cohesion on the pitch.

“It wasn’t until after Christmas last season that we felt we were finding that rhythm and that togetherness where we knew each other’s games inside out and exactly what was expected. We felt we had to take advantage of that at the start of this season and we have.”

Guthrie now feels there is an exciting energy and aura around Walsall.

And starting with the visit of Exeter, he is now looking forward to a run that sees the Saddlers play six games in just 17 days.

“We have started the season well, unbeaten and playing some good football,” the midfielder continued.

“There is a really busy schedule coming up but we are looking at it as an opportunity to get a lot of points on the board.

“Then when the madness clams down we can have a look at it and see where we are.

“But we have got a good energy and aura about us at the minute.”