Walsall boss Darrell Clarke hopes his team will take confidence from their 6-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers.
A hat-trick from Josh Gordon and further goals from Wes McDonald, Liam Kinsella and Cameron Norman saw off Mark Cooper’s side and ensure the Saddlers progressed to the last 32 of the Leasing.Com Trophy as group winners.
Clarke’s men will now turn their attention to a crucial league game at home to Cambridge United and the Walsall manager is hoping they will be boosted from Tuesday’s triumph.
“We had to win a football game,” said Clarke.
“Forest Green are a very good team and they’re doing well in League Two, I know they made a few changes tonight but for me the shape was good without the ball, we pressed high, the transition was good and we were ruthless when we needed to be, which we haven’t been this season so hopefully the boys gain a bit of confidence from that.
“The lads put in a good performance, done the job and it’s nice to be in the next round.
“No one is getting carried away but you’ve got to enjoy that and try and take it into Saturday.”
Clarke was pleased to see striker Josh Gordon score a hat-trick.
He’s also happy to have Caolan Lavery available again and is now keen to see Gordon and the rest of Walsall’s strikers score more goals.
“I think one of the big disappointing things in a pressure environment is that you want your strikers to get off to a good start and none of my strikers did that apart from Lavery and then all of a sudden he was out for six weeks so it’s important the strikers, like Josh who missed a few chances earlier in the season gains confidence,” Clarke explained.
“We all know what Josh is about, he’s a hard worker, he’s a grafter and like our other centre forwards, and they need to add more goals to their game as it has been the missing ingredient.”
Walsall take return to Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday as they host Cambridge United at the Banks’s Stadium.
All tickets are priced at just £5 for this fixture.
Call the Ticket Office now on 01922 651 414/416 or visit our e-ticketing site to purchase yours.