The Saddlers visit the Shakers this afternoon...
Head coach Sean O’Driscoll is hoping his side can enjoy more away day success when Walsall travel to Bury this afternoon.The Saddlers boast League One’s strongest away record, having recorded an impressive 25 points from 12 away fixtures, losing only once.
We have also kept the most away clean sheets (six) and conceded the joint-fewest away goals (10), along with Burton.
Walsall have earned two fine away results already this week – beating Brentford 1-0 in the FA Cup and drawing 1-1 with promotion-rivals Coventry in the league.
And when asked why Walsall are so good away from home, O’Driscoll said: “We’re really good when we got toe-to-toe with people.
“And if we go a goal up, they’ve shown, even in the short time I’ve been here, that they’re a really tenacious bunch and a hard team to beat.
“Like most teams away from home, you’re sometimes given a little bit space.
“At home, the opposition have done their homework and it’s up to you to solve the problems they create. That’s probably the biggest thing.
“Every game, we’ll create chances and we’ve got people off the bench who can come on and change the complexion of the game.
“But it’s one of those intangibles that you could analyse until the cows come home.
“It’s probably not one thing, but a culmination of things working together.”
O’Driscoll has also been impressed with the team spirit within the Walsall ranks – and admits it’s rare to see such a tight-knit group.
“You don’t see it often because managers don’t get the chance,” he said.
“If the average tenure of a manager is less than 12 months, then it doesn’t foster as it’s grown over time.
“A lot of these players have been together two or two seasons so they’ve had the chance to grow together as well.
“This is something that not just the players, but the club itself, have got to hang on to.”
Today’s opponents Bury ended Walsall’s unbeaten league start after winning 1-0 at the Banks’s in the September reverse fixture.
The Shakers are 14th in League One but have struggled of late, losing three consecutive league games.
But O’Driscoll insists we won't be taking them lightly.
“They’ve only lost two at home all season,” he said.
“English football dictates that whether you’re in the Premier League or Conference, there are no easy games.
“Every manager and every player will tell you that.
“I read a book that said ‘50% of football results are down to luck’. I won’t argue with that.”