Walsall boss Darrell Clarke is hoping his side can find their ruthless side when bottom of the league Southend United visit the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Saddlers have been creating plenty of chances so far this season but Clarke feels as though his side haven’t found their killer instinct in front of goal just yet but feels as though the team are on the right track.
“There’s one thing missing in our game at the moment and that is our ruthlessness,” said Clarke.
“The work rate and the desire is there.
Yes we can always get better in our game and get better on the ball but for me it is just that ruthlessness in taking more opportunities when we are creating plenty of them.
“Games are won on fine lines in professional football, they always have and they always will be and we are creating and getting ourselves in situations to create chances that we should be capitalising on a little bit more which could have made the points total a little bit more.
“I feel as though we are very close but I don’t want to keep saying that, I want us to show it.
“To a certain degree, there have been a few too many draws in the league run where we have been beaten just once in 16 games but I feel in general we are slowly getting there.”
And ahead of the game against Southend, Clarke provided a positive update on striker Josh Gordon, who he has confirmed will step up his rehabilitation in the coming week or so.
“We had some good news about Josh Gordon,” Clarke continued.
“It doesn’t mean that he is going to be available straight away but the injury is healing properly and if all things go to plan, he could be back in early December which will be good news.
“He gets his knee brace off after the Cheltenham game which means that he will be able to step up his rehab work.”