Walsall manager Mat Sadler has called for focus rather than finger-pointing as his side face a dramatic final day in their bid for League One promotion.
Final Day Tension for the Saddlers
The Saddlers suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Accrington Stanley at the weekend, extending their winless run to 13 games and leaving them just outside the automatic promotion places. Although a route to third place remains mathematically possible, Walsall now need a favourable combination of results elsewhere on the final weekend to secure automatic promotion.
Sadler remained defiant when asked whether mistakes throughout the season might have cost Walsall dearly. Instead, he stressed the importance of maintaining belief during the final stretch.
“Who knows? Maybe it’s not the time for that but we’re still in with a shout. I’m not going to say that it’s the way around that we would’ve wanted it.
“It’s not in our hands which is frustrating because it was there for that to be the case [before the defeat against Accrington].
“But we’re still in the hunt and we’ll keep fighting until that’s that. If that changes then we’ll fight after the next thing.”
Despite the setback, the Saddlers could still secure third place if they avoid defeat at Crewe Alexandra, provided Bradford City lose against Fleetwood Town and Notts County fail to beat Doncaster Rovers. However, defeat could see Walsall slip as low as fifth depending on other results.
At present, Walsall are on course to face Salford City in the play-off semi-finals after the Red Devils moved into seventh place following their 4-1 victory over Colchester United. The League Two table remains incredibly tight, with sixth-placed AFC Wimbledon and 10th-placed Colchester separated by just four points heading into the final round of fixtures.
Elsewhere, Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale both secured automatic promotion last weekend after claiming crucial wins over Bradford and Wimbledon, respectively.
Writer’s View
Mat Sadler’s refusal to dwell on missed opportunities sums up Walsall’s season: a campaign of promise that now teeters on a knife edge. His focus on fighting to the very end will be crucial as the Saddlers head into a final day that could either bring redemption or leave them facing a gruelling play-off battle. The mood at the Bescot Stadium suggests belief remains — but time is running out to turn that belief into reality.
