Walsall captain James Clarke insists there’s plenty for the players to play for in the final game of the season.
The Saddlers head to Carlisle United tomorrow afternoon and will be aiming to finish the 2020/21 campaign on a positive note.
Clarke is keen to avenge the 2-0 defeat from the reverse fixture and while there isn’t a lot riding on the match in terms of the league table, the match is still important for the squad.
“You want to win every game but that’s not been the case,” Clarke said.
“We want to go into our last game getting a win because its good momentum going into next season and for personal pride as well, no one wants to end the last game losing.
“We owe them one, they came up and bullied us here.
“They’re not renowned for passing it around the back, they’re not that style of team.
“It’s a game with not anything in particular on it but it will be down to personal pride and there’s outside things going on with people out of contract so you’ve got to still be on your game, it can’t be a game you can let pass you by so we’re still expecting a full-hearted game from them and ourselves.”
Clarke has made a positive impact since he returned from an injury back in March, helping the Saddlers to five clean sheets in that period.
The 31-year-old picked up a few things when watching on during his time out injured that he feels he has benefited from.
“Having a spell on the sidelines, you’re learning as well. I do think it helps you because you have a clearer head watching things. You see scenarios that you’d put yourself in and think ‘maybe we should have done this’ and then when the roles reverse, you’re out there and can feel the same situation happening, you’ve got a better perspective of it.”
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