Centre-back Jon Guthrie is proud to have played every minute of every game for the Saddlers in 2017/18.
The 6’3” defender scored one goal in 52 appearances in all competitions after signing from Crewe last summer.
“I set myself a target at the start of the season to play as many games as I could,” he commented.
“I didn’t think I’d play every minute of every game and it’s a nice stat to have.
“I’m delighted to have managed it and I’m proud of that achievement.”
Guthrie was the oldest Walsall player on the pitch in our final match at Fleetwood, aged 25.
And when asked if the squad could do with more experience, he admitted: “I think it could do with one or two.
“I was the oldest out there at 25 which probably isn’t the normal thing.
“We’ve got some older heads like Skip [Adam Chambers], but we did miss some experience, especially when the games were coming thick and fast.
“Being down there, we could probably have done with a couple more older heads who had been through it all before to help us through.”
After struggling in the league this season, Guthrie is hoping for better next year.
“No-one enjoys being in a relegation scrap.
“For a lot of the lads, it will have been their first time going through something like this and they’ll have learned from it.
“We’d rather be looking up the table than down and I’m sure that’s what our target will be next year."
And Guthrie believes there have been signs under Dean Keates that next season can be more successful.
“Especially at the back, you can see the improvement. We’ve been a lot more solid.
“We know we didn’t keep enough clean sheets throughout the season but I think there are some promising signs that we can take forward into next season.”