Darrell Clarke: Supporters could make all the difference for Walsall
Darrell Clarke admits he cannot wait to see Walsall fans back inside the Banks’s Stadium – with the boss believing they could be key to turning round his side’s indifferent home form.
The Saddlers host Bolton on Saturday in what they hope will be their last home match without supporters.
The town of Walsall is currently under tier three government restrictions as it continues to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. That effectively means it is still in lockdown with no supporters allowed into the Banks’s Stadium.
But the tiers are set to be reviewed next Wednesday. And if the town is moved into tier two, Walsall would be allowed to permit 2,000 fans for their match against Port Vale on December 19.
And Clarke believes that could help his side go on a run at home – with the team having failed to win any of their last four outings in WS1.
“Too right we are,” Clarke said when asked if he and his players are looking forward to fans coming back.
“When we’re off tier three, we want to be putting in performances.
“It’s certainly been a frustrating period so our fans could potentially help us.
“Our performance first half against Stevenage for example, I think that would have got the momentum and the fans going.
“There’s a lot of things that go into winning football matches. It will be great to see the Walsall fans back.
“I like to see the passion and what it means to football fans because that’s exactly how I feel on the touchline.
“I want our fans back, I might need a tin hat on at times if the performances aren’t good but that’s life as a football manager.
“We certainly want our fans back in the stadium to get behind the team, I miss the atmosphere of games, and the players miss the atmosphere of games.”
Clarke believes the return of fans will have a big impact on the game.
“Without a shadow of a doubt fans will make a difference,” the boss added.
“The momentum in games and I think referees decisions are different as well. I think referees can be influenced by crowd decisions.
“I know there’s a lot of players who struggle when they’re not performing in front of fans, I think the pressure gets to them, certainly at our level.
“With top level players it doesn’t make the slight bit of difference because that’s why they’re top players, their mentality.
“I think there will be a change depending on how many fans come in between now and the end of the season, I think there will be a change in certain teams’ performances.”
