Walsall Head Coach Matt Taylor expects Forest Green Rovers to arrive at the Banks’s Stadium full of confidence but insists his team are focused on their own performance.
The Saddlers will be looking for their first win of the new season when they take on Rob Edwards’ side on Saturday.
Taylor is looking forward to the game and hopes there will be another good atmosphere at the Banks’s Stadium as his side entertain a team with some good early season momentum after beating Sutton United in the league and Championship outfit Bristol City.
“They’re a team that are high on confidence,” Taylor said.
“They’ve got two wins under their belt in the first two games of the season. I’ve been to see them live, they’re a very competent football team, they’ve got a young coach who, like me, is beginning his journey in professional football.
“He’s very knowledgeable and I like the way they try and play. When you look at every opposition in this league, there’s chances for us to capitalise on the way the opposition play and that’s what we’re working on with the players but I will say the focus from my perspective is on us, because it has to be.
“The players are in good form, we see that again with the way they train, the quality they bring, the desire so I’m really excited for the game.
“The players understand there are no givens at any level of football, we’ve got to earn everything that we’re going to achieve this season and that starts in trying to put in a performance that’s worthy of gaining three points at home to Forest Green which let’s be honest, we’d all love.
“We’re hoping the fans will come back, I’m sure they will do and it will be great to have them. The atmosphere I’m sure will be electric again.
“The players are desperate to perform for them so very much looking forward to the game.”
Despite not picking up the results he would have liked, Taylor has been encouraged with the performances and sees no reason not to remain upbeat.
Taylor feels his team are all singing from the same hymn sheet as they continue to progress and improve.
“It’s a process that takes time to nit a group of people together,” he commented.
“Then when you couple that with all the information technically that we’re trying to give the players whilst making sure they’re fit for games that are up and coming, it is a process and one I’m thoroughly enjoying.
“It’s one that I know everybody in the building is engaged in so it will take time but in the same breath, there comes a point where when we create chances against Forest Green, we’ve got to take them.
“What I will say is the foundation from Tuesday has to be built on because for us to build momentum, performances they’re great but we understand that it comes down to results.
“The fans will demand that; we demand that as a group of staff and the players demand that themselves. Everybody is in good spirits at the moment, everyone is happy, albeit we didn’t get the win on Tuesday night but there is no reason we shouldn’t be buoyant.
“We’ve produced two good performances against two good teams and we’ve got to produce another performance of that nature to try and get anything out of the game on Saturday against a very good Forest Green Rovers team.”
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