Walsall v Bradford: Brian Dutton wants a reaction

The Saddlers still have hope of a play-off push this season, despite now sitting 15th in League Two.

Recent results, including Wednesday’s 1-0 home loss to Newport, leaves them nine points off the top seven and 11 points clear of the bottom two.

Walsall now sit in a crossroads position and after failing to impose themselves in the attacking third in midweek, Dutton knows that his side must start picking up points to salvage any promotion push.

When asked how he will improve the lack of goals, Dutton said: “On the training field.

“We’re working with restricted time. Time is our enemy at the moment but we can’t afford to drop points, we need to get on a roll.

“To improve we need to get on the training field and work on it and get the clear messages to the players but we have to do that quickly if we’re going to do anything this season.

“The ideal situation would be that we have big gaps between our games where we can go on the coaching field and really implement what we’re trying to work on.

“Unfortunately it’s a case of rest and recovery a lot of the time and then getting them on the coaching field for small amounts of time.

“We’ll have to deal with that accordingly.”

Bradford are one of the most in-form sides in the division, winning their last three games, and Dutton has demanded a reaction tomorrow following the midweek defeat.

“We want to go into that game with a reaction now,” Dutton added.

“There’s been lots of positives since I took over but at the end of the day we’ve played three, lost two and drawn one.

“Now go show me a reaction and there’s no better reaction than beating Bradford.

“They’re a good bunch and when they recover right no doubt they’ll be chomping at the bit to get out there and put it right.”

Meanwhile, Walsall are starting to get some good news off the field with players returning from injury.

Stuart Sinclair made his comeback against Newport, while Dutton has said Tyreik Wright is available again from tomorrow.

He said: “He’s (Wright) back available now but he was touch and go for (Newport).

“It would have been a risk putting him out so we wanted to make sure that we give him a bit more time before easing him back in.”

James Clarke and Rory Holden are still working their way back to full fitness after knee injuries.

Both are aiming to be available in the next few weeks and Holden, a player key to Walsall’s attacking creativity, is now back running in training.

“He’s out on the training pitch now running in straight lines but he won’t be available in the immediate future,” Dutton said.

“We’re not going to rush him back, it’s important he is fit and ready to go.

“The positives are that he’s out on the training pitch running in straight lines but it will take a while to get his rhythm and confidence back after such a horrific injury.”

Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Jack Nolan were replaced in the squad in midweek by academy prospects Tom Leak and Sam Perry.

Dutton says that Cockerill-Mollett needs more time to get fit, after limited game time this season, while Nolan is fit but was rotated to give Leak and Perry a chance.

“Cockerill-Mollett is back fit but he’s not fully fit or up to speed yet, so we’re going to give him a little bit more time to get himself right,” Dutton added.

“Jack is fit and available for selection.

“Leak and Perry deserve an opportunity. They’re training like demons and with James Clarke out it’s only right they had an opportunity to sample first-team football. Hopefully we can get minutes into the boys between now and the end of the season.”