Defender sees similarities to Claudio Ranieri's Leicester...
Attacking right-back Jason Demetriou believes Walsall have a similar team spirit to surprise Premier League leaders Leicester.The Foxes’ remarkable rise from last year’s relegation candidates to this term’s title favourites has been one of the stories of the 2015/16 football season.
Leicester’s success has been built on an enviable team spirit, while Walsall, currently second in League One, also have a strong togetherness in their ranks.
And Demetriou believes our team spirit – like Leicester’s – has been key to the side’s impressive form.
“Leicester have great characters and a good team spirit - and that’s one of the main things we’ve got here,” said Demetriou.
“We’ve got ability in the group and the togetherness has been fantastic from the first day and it’s still strong now. Spirit is massive in most teams – it takes 60 or 70% of it.
“We’ve got that in abundance and the ability is there so hopefully we can continue our good form.”
Demetriou revealed that he and his teammates feel Walsall are “one of the better teams” in League One and that they are confident promotion can be achieved.
“A lot of people have expected us to slip away but we’ve managed to do well and stay up there,” said the full-back.
“We’ve been under the radar but there’s always been that self-belief that we’ve got a chance (of promotion) because we feel we are one of the better teams in this league.
“We need to get a good run going now.
“We’ve got a few big games coming up so hopefully we can get a few good results.”
Walsall have three remaining February fixtures, starting with a trip to Steve Davis’ Crewe tomorrow afternoon.
The Saddlers then face promotion-rivals Wigan and Burton – and Demetriou admits it could be a pivotal month.
“We have got a huge three weeks ahead,” he said.
“It’s massive and it is what football is made for. We believe we are good enough to come through it and we are determined to get the right results.
“It all starts with the Crewe game and the belief in the squad is right up there.
“Saturday can’t come soon enough - we are really looking forward to it.”