Mat Sadler: Walsall’s defensive work paying off
Player-coach Mat Sadler believes Walsall’s work on their defensive shape is starting to pay off.
The 35-year-old has started the last three games at centre-back due to an injury to James Clarke and has looked impressive.
The Saddlers have struggled to see out games at times this season but on Saturday, holding a 3-1 lead, they survived a barrage of Port Vale attacks and set pieces – something Sadler says they have been working on.
“It’s something we work on and something we work tirelessly on,” he said.
“We were playing Port Vale who have put the most crosses in the box in the division so we know that balls are going to come in our box.
“We’ve at times been guilty of taking the lead and then giving away a goal, not defending properly from our shape and being too expansive.
“We’ve analysed a few games and made the assumption of trying to work from the base of a shape and been really conscientiously think of our shape.
“The division means sometimes, teams give you goals, which they did on Saturday. We’ve been guilty of giving teams goals at different times in the season so the long and short of it is, we’re working really hard to improve things at the football club to be successful and that’s everybody.
“Day in, day out we work as hard as we possibly can and highlight things that need improvement and work on them.”
Meanwhile, Sadler insists he tries to show ‘empathy’ with the players as he juggles his player-coach role.
“Last season I was doing the role I’m doing now, just without the title,” Sadler added.
“Of course, you’re trying to say to the lads ‘do this, do that’ and if you come on to the pitch and you’re not doing that, you have to make sure that you do.
“It all comes from the right place, it all comes from a respectful place and I make sure when I’m discussing things with the lads that I don’t forget what it’s like to be on the football pitch.
“It’s quite easy as a coach to say ‘you should be doing this or should be doing that’ and not listen to the perspective of the player so I try to show that bit of empathy and understanding and hopefully that’s working.”
