Walsall v Stevenage - Match preview

The Saddlers are seemingly at a crossroads in their season, sitting 16th in League Two but still only six points off the top seven.

Two poor performances and results against Southend United and Cheltenham Town was followed up by a point away at league leaders Newport County – when the display warranted all three points.

Like Southend, Stevenage arrive at the Banks’s Stadium having made a difficult start to the season – although they have made a resurgence in their last two games.

When asked what the team learned from the Southend stumble, in preparation for tonight’s clash, Bates said: “It’s about not being complacent.

“We went toe-to-toe with top of the league so against smaller teams like Stevenage we need to be ruthless.

“We need to really go for them and hopefully get the three points.

“We went into the Southend game with a little bit of complacency and we need to stop that. That needs to go.

“We have so much attacking threat in our team and we need to go at teams, be on the front foot from the start.

“You see the table and there’s nothing in it, if you get three, four or five wins together you’re nearly at the top and in the play-offs.”

Stevenage played on Sunday in the FA Cup, while Walsall were given an eight-day break since their last game, after being knocked out of the competition.

Bates believes the players may benefit from that rest, while manager Darrell Clarke was keen to continue their momentum from South Wales.

“There’s been a lot of games and I think the break is needed now for us,” Bates said.

“We’ll regroup and go again. Hopefully we can get the three points in the next games.”

Clarke added: “I think the lads were ready to build on the Newport performance, to be honest.

“It’s an enforced break for eight days and we’ll try and use it to our advantage with plenty of work and a bit more rest to recharge the batteries.”

For those watching and analysing Walsall this season, it is clear to see the improvements on last year, while the final piece of the puzzle is still one or two steps away.

Clarke still believes in his squad but expects a stern test from Stevenage.

“There’s been one disappointment this season where I’ve questioned them, at Cheltenham,” Clarke added.

“The rest, when we’ve had setbacks we’ve come back. We’ve made points from coming back this season.

“I know there’s a real good desire in the squad, a real good belief.

“This league can quickly change over the course of three games in a week. Six points, nine points and you’re right back in the mix.

“We’ll keep believing and stay positive. The lads can be positive with three defeats in 19 in this division, it’s no mean feat, albeit we’re disappointed with the draws.

“The games in this division are very tight, anything can swing it one way or another. All teams are very competitive. All teams are fit. They’ve (Stevenage) had an extra game and we’ve had an extra rest, but I’m sure they’ll be recharged and ready to go.

“They’ve changed to a diamond formation at the minute and it’s worked in the last two or three games. They’ll be looking to pick up the points like we will be.”

Danny Guthrie and James Clarke have returned to full fitness in recent weeks and should be available from the start if chosen. George Nurse was still around two weeks away from recovering from a tendon injury before the Cheltenham game, so it remains to be seen whether he will be involved.

Callum Cockerill-Mollett will be keen to return to the fold after being left out of the squad to face Newport as manager Clarke called on him to improve his form.