Walsall boss Brian Dutton: It’s down to pride and playing for the badge
Brian Dutton has called on his Walsall side to play for personal pride and the club’s name as they finish their season away to Carlisle United tomorrow.
The Saddlers have now escaped any threat of relegation and make the 185-mile journey to Cumbria with nothing to play for other than a higher league position.
They currently sit 19th in the division and could, if results go their way, finish 17th – which means the club has already confirmed it’s lowest football league finish in 100 years.
Now, head coach Dutton wants his players to react from last week’s loss to Morecambe and finish the campaign with a win.
When asked what the players are playing for at Carlisle, he said: “They are playing for, like myself, the pride of their own name. It’s as simple as that.
“When you step over that white line you’re representing yourself, your family and Walsall football club.
“If you aren’t motivated by those three things then what’s the point? What’s the point of having a career in the game and representing Walsall? There’s no point is there.
“If players have that dignity and self respect then we’ll see a reaction, if they don’t, I don’t want to put my name to them.”
Midfield enforcer Liam Kinsella is expected to start again, unless Dutton decides to give an opportunity to an out of favour player.
The academy graduate is one of few players at the club still in contract for next season and while he agrees they are playing for pride, he insists the team-mates out of contract are playing for their futures.
Kinsella said: “For the lads in contract it’s all about personal pride. You want to showcase what you can do.
“For the lads out of contract there will be people watching and Walsall watching. They’re playing for contracts and their livelihoods.
“They need to go out there, showcase what they can do and see what happens in the summer.
“It’s been a tough year with everything that’s been going on, so all we can do is play for our personal pride and show what we can do.”
In the reverse fixture against Carlisle this season the Saddlers fell to a 2-0 loss on January 2.
Since then the Blues’ hopes of a promotion push have dwindled but Dutton is still expecting a stern test.
“They’re a hard-working, honest team,” he added.
“I went down to Cheltenham in mid-week to watch them. They’re another team, similar to Morecambe, who prey on mistakes.
“They ask you questions. They might not be as pretty on the eye as some of the teams in the league but they’ve been just as effective and that’s why they’ve been up there.
“It’ll be a difficult game for us, but we look forward to it.”
Kinsella added: “They were probably one of the best teams we played this season when they played at our place.
“They’re a very good side so we have to prepare right and try and end the season with a win. That’s all we can do.”
Meanwhile, there are still question marks over the fitness of Stuart Sinclair and Rory Holden.
Experienced midfielder Sinclair has not featured since March 27 with a knock, while Holden last played on April 13. The Northern Irishman has had further appointments to look at his knee which has caused him issues for the majority of this season.
When asked if the pair will be fit for tomorrow, Dutton said: “I think Sinco will be available for the final game. The Rory Holden situation is complicated. He’s had an injection now and we’re hoping that solves the problem.
“That’s settling down as we speak, he’ll be assessed and a decision will be made whether he’s in contention for Carlisle.”
Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Derick Osei Yaw have been out of favour in recent weeks and it remains to be seen if they will get a final opportunity against Carlisle.
