The latest edition of Saddlers Shout will be available at Saturday's match against Newport County.
Supporters can pick up a copy around the ground, at the Club Shop or a the Ticket Office on matchday.
Saddlers forward Jamille Matt sat down for an exclusive interview in Saddlers Shout where he discusses his early weeks as a Saddler and facing his former club on Saturday.
Jamille, thanks for joining us. Firstly, how have you found your first month at Walsall?
“It’s been quite good. Obviously, the first couple of weeks was really frustrating. As a new signing you want to come in, play your games straight away and hit the ground running but through postponements and the FA Cup where I was cup tied, I didn’t get to play in the first couple of weeks but it’s been brilliant. I knew the gaffer, Hats (Wayne Hatswell) and a few of the lads as well but the rest of the lads have welcomed me in, it’s a great group. It’s been quite an easy transition to settle in so I’m really enjoying it.”
You had to wait for your debut as you said but it came against Salford City. A tough one to come into but how do you feel you started?
“I think I did OK. If you look at it, the three games we’ve had have been tough games. I don’t think any game is easy in the league but probably three of the toughest games we could have had coming into my first three games and I think we’ve been unlucky, maybe a draw would have been a fair result and then Northampton, in my opinion, I thought we shaded that game and unlucky not to come out of it with three points. Probably similar against Leyton Orient but I think they had the better of the second half so that was more of a fair result. Personally, I think I’ve done OK, I think there is more to come from myself in terms of the team kind of still figuring out what works best with everyone. My strengths are trying to get in the box and trying to get on the end of crosses so when we get more cohesion in terms of that, there’s a lot more to come from myself and the team because there’s a great team in there, we’ve got a great squad.”
Did the team take encouragement from the two games against Leyton Orient and Northampton Town, who are two of the strongest teams in the division?
“I think the biggest sign to the encouragement is we were disappointed not to come out of both of those games with more points. If you look at the league table and you look at positions, the teams that have been the most consistent are always near the top and Northampton and Orient were third and first when we played them so the encouragement in itself is the fact we were disappointed to come out of both games with just a point each. We probably, in both games, weren’t at our best over the full period so if we can put in performances over 90 minutes, we’ll be in a great position to get three points in many games to come.”
One of those games was your first game at the Poundland Bescot Stadium as a Walsall player. What was it like for you being back in your hometown and walking out at the Bescot?
“If I’m being honest, I was a bit nervous before the game – probably for that reason. I just wanted to do really well for the team, try and show how good I am. I think I did alright in the game but I was really excited. The nerves were because I wanted to do well but excited as well and anxious to get a good result for the team. I waited a while to make my debut and even longer to make my home debut. It was good excitement as well because I’d experienced the atmosphere against Leicester City and that was a game where I was kicking every ball in the stand being cup tied so it was something I wanted to experience for myself and it didn’t disappoint. The fans were brilliant and to know we’ve got them on the side, 6000 I think it was last Saturday, so that will go a long way in the run-in.”
How is being back in the Walsall area for you?
“I’ve got a base in and around Walsall. I’ve got a lot of friends in the area and they want to see me do well and I want to do really well for the club. It’s really nice to be based back in the area and reconnect with people and feel the buzz around the club. I speak to mates who have been Walsall fans about the buzz around the club that hasn’t been for a few years so we need to capitalise on that.”
It's Newport who we take on at the weekend. Do you always keep an eye out on when you will take on your former clubs?
“Definitely, Newport is a team I’m very fond of because I had two great years there. It probably didn’t end how I wanted it to end because it was during Covid, things were up in the air and not getting a chance to say goodbye to the fans. I’ve actually had a decent record against them in terms of scoring goals – before and after I’ve left so it’s always a team I look out for because I want them to do well. I won’t want them to do well on Saturday. When I’ve played against them in the past, it’s kind of a strange feeling because you go from being really fond of a team to wanting to beat them and score against them and that’s kind of a strange thing in football but I’m a Walsall player, I want to do really well for Walsall and will be looking to come out with the three points.”
Pick up a copy of Saddlers Shout for just £4 at Saturday's match to read the full interview with Jamille.