Walsall boss Mat Sadler insists his stuttering Saddlers will not let heads drop despite slipping out of League Two’s top three for the first time in five months after a 2-2 draw with Harrogate.
Liam Gordon’s 88th-minute equaliser rescued Walsall a point but they have gone 11 games without a win to drop from first to fourth.
Just three points separate the top four, though, and Sadler remains convinced his side can bounce back.
“I don’t know what that point will mean, time will tell – but it could be a very, very big point,” said Sadler. “We have to keep fighting, keep together and keep scrapping.
“We’re in the mix and it’s another point on our total – a total we know is a healthy one for the season but we want more. We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves – we’re fighters, not victims.
“There will still be plenty of twists and turns between now and the end of the season. The most important thing for us is we’re in the fight – and we’ve got a team who are fighting.
“There’s no part of anybody who doesn’t understand the situation but when you’ve got a group who are fighting that’s a good place to start.
“We have to remember for a lot of this group it’s the first time they’ve experienced this but they are giving everything.”
Walsall led early when Harrogate defender Anthony O’Connor turned Connor Barrett’s low drive into his own net.
But Josh March’s brilliant over-the-shoulder volley drew Town level and they later led thanks to Ellis Taylor’s deflected strike.
Three fine saves from Saddlers keeper Tommy Simkin and Gordon’s measured late finish denied Harrogate victory but their survival is almost assured, seven points clear of danger with three games left.
“At the minute you have to say teams are in worse positions so we’ve got to take those positives,” said Sulphurites boss Simon Weaver.
“But until we’re mathematically safe – which we can be on Monday and were very nearly today – you’ve got to keep ploughing on.
“I’m proud of the players, I thought every single one of them absolutely grafted and it was an intense team performance.
“Shame we couldn’t hold out for the win because we were a threat on the break, we looked solid, defended set-plays well and looked a well-structured team.”
Harrogate also ended a six-game away goal drought in style thanks to March’s spectacular effort – a strike reminiscent of Marco Van Basten’s famous Netherlands goal.
“An incredible finish from such an acute angle so he’s got to be proud of that,” Weaver added.
“It was a spectacular effort, his body shape was perfect when you watch it back. It was one of the goals of the season and we’ve scored a couple of humdingers recently.”
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was delighted by the way Ollie Watkins channelled his anger at his bit-part role against Paris St Germain with a man-of-the-match display in the 4-1 thrashing of fellow Champions League contenders Newcastle.The long-serving 29-year-old started both legs of the quarter-final clash with the French champions on the bench, making late substitute appearances in the 3-1 loss ...
Aston Villa put their Champions League disappointment behind them with an emphatic 4-1 win against in-form Newcastle as Unai Emery’s men continued their bid to return to European football’s top table in style.Four days on from falling agonisingly short in a pulsating quarter-final clash with Paris St Germain, Villa Park rocked once again as the third-placed Magpies saw their six-match ...
Graham Potter blasted his players for their inability to control games and admitted he faces some big decisions this summer after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by rock-bottom Southampton.Relegated Saints were still on course to be crowned the worst team in Premier League history after Jarrod Bowen fired the hosts into the lead just after half-time.But Southampton were not even the worst tea...
Andoni Iraola insisted record-breaking Bournemouth “cannot be happy with this point” after their European football ambitions were dented by a goalless draw at 10-man Crystal Palace.The hosts clung on after Chris Richards was controversially sent off with a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time of a contest which never found a flow, and saw referee Sam Barrott dole out nine cau...
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes their 2-0 win over Everton in their final visit to Goodison Park was hugely significant in the quest to secure a 15th successive season of Champions League football.The game was meandering towards a draw, which would have opened the door for sixth-placed Chelsea, until Nico O’Reilly (84) and Mateo Kovacic, in added time, scored to open up a four...
Annan kept their Scottish League One survival hopes alive with a stunning 5-1 win over champions Arbroath at Galabank.Arbroath – who had secured promotion last weekend – took a 17th-minute lead through Billy King.Paul Smith equalised from a corner in the 31st minute, with Tommy Muir then knocking in the rebound after Willie Gibson’s penalty was saved nine minutes later.Muir exten...
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace kept alive Brentford’s outside hopes of qualifying for Europe as 10-man Brighton were beaten 4-2 at the Gtech Community Stadium.A first home Premier League win in four months meant a top-eight finish is within the reach of Thomas Frank’s side and the steely self-assurance with which they saw off another European hopeful would suggest they can carry the fight ...
Manchester City’s bid for a 15th successive season of Champions League football was bolstered by two late goals in a 2-0 win at Everton they barely deserved.The game was meandering towards a draw, which would have made them vulnerable to Chelsea who play rivals Nottingham Forest on Monday, when 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly stabbed home in the 84th minute.Substitute Mateo Kovacic doubled t...
Bournemouth brought up a club record Premier League points tally but would have wanted more after playing out a goalless draw at 10-man Crystal Palace.The contest rarely found a flow and by the time it concluded referee Sam Barrott had issued nine yellow cards.Two of those were to Palace defender Chris Richards, who was controversially dismissed late in the first half.The result took the Cherries ...
Lesley Ugochukwu’s added-time strike ensured Southampton equalled Derby’s record-low Premier League points total with a 1-1 draw at West Ham.Relegated Saints were still on course to be crowned the worst team in Premier League history after Jarrod Bowen fired the hosts into the lead.But they were not even the worst team at the London Stadium for long periods of a dreadful game.And they ...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 4 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 5 David Gray hails ‘incredible achievement’ as Hibernian match club record run
- 6 Enzo Maresca: It’s up to Chelsea fans to decide if they want to back team
- 7 Vitor Pereira reveals lofty ambitions for Wolves after victory over Tottenham
- 8 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 9 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 10 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt