Saddlers targeting a fourth successive home win...
Jon Whitney is hoping we can maintain our impressive recent home form with victory over play-off chasing Peterborough this weekend.Whitney’s men have won their last three games on home soil, beating Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers and Northampton.
Grant McCann’s Posh, meanwhile, are just four points ahead of the Saddlers in eighth place, three points off the top six.
The Cambridgeshire club have the third best away record in League One – and Whitney knows they will pose a test of his own side’s play-off credentials.
“It’ll be a tough game,” Whitney commented. “They have been a little bit hit and miss at times but they are a very attack-minded team.
“They try to score more goals than the opposition and look to play through the thirds. They play at a good tempo and Grant, who they brought in from Port Vale, dictates play.
“It’ll be a tactical game but it’s important we play our own game.
“We want to keep the run going at home and keep building momentum. If we get that atmosphere that the fans have created recently then we’ll be a threat.”
The Saddlers held second-placed Scunthorpe to a goalless draw on Tuesday night – and Whitney was encouraged by his team’s display.
“We were very solid,” he added. “They try to grind teams down but I thought we got the first blow in at the start of both halves.
“We put them under some pressure, switched it and got in behind really well through Jase [McCarthy] a few times.
“We created some really good opportunities and kept their chances to a minimum.
“Their keeper pulled off some good saves, particularly the one from Joe which I thought was heading for the top corner.
“We were a bit disappointed not to win, but it was still a good performance and we can take that into Saturday.”
Belgian midfielder Flo Cuvelier was forced off in the first half with a calf injury – and Whitney says he now faces a minimum of three weeks on the sidelines.
“Flo got his studs caught in the ground at Scunthorpe and picked up a slight calf strain,” he said.
“We’ll see how it is over the next couple of days. He’s a bit down but I’m going to keep his head up. I think we’ll be without Flo for a minimum three weeks but hopefully it’ll only be three weeks.
“It’s a real shame for him but we’ve got people to come in. Kieron Morris came on at Scunthorpe and did well, and we’ve got George Dobson who can come in as well.
“We’re going to pick up the injuries now and then but it’s important the squad is used and players take their opportunity.”