Express & Star

Coventry v Walsall match preview

Goalkeeper Liam Roberts admits it’s mentally tough being part of a team conceding so many goals.

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But the shot-stopper has vowed to do everything in his power to help turn Walsall’s form around.

The Saddlers are on a horrendous run that has seen them lose seven of their last eight games.

During that spell, they have conceded 16 goals and slipped to within two points of the relegation zone.

To Roberts’ credit, the vast majority of the goals he has conceded have not been his fault with players in front of him guilty of making individual mistakes.

But as the last line of the defence, the keeper knows he has to take his fair share of the responsibility.

“It is mentally tough when you’re losing games but you haven’t had a lot to do,” Roberts said. “You are always thinking, ‘What can I do to affect the result?’.

“Sometimes there isn’t anything I can do, they are just good finishes.

“But, and this is me being honest, there are still areas that I need to improve on massively.

“I look at every goal that I concede and work out what I can do better in a game to try and keep them out.

“That has to be your philosophy as a goalkeeper. I need to keep working hard, doing the right things to trying to improve.

“I will do that by continuing to work with Michael Oakes (goalkeeping coach) and Chris Dunn.

“I’m trying to do everything right to make sure I can play to the best of my ability.

Walsall likely line-up

“And I’ve now prepared myself for another big game on Saturday.”

The Saddlers travel to take on a Coventry side tomorrow who ended a five-game winless run by beating Rochdale last weekend.

Despite their poor run, performances have been better than results for Dean Keates’ side. And that’s why Roberts is adamant their fortunes will soon turn around.

“There have been a lot of games that we have lost where we were in control,” the 24-year-old continued.

“We have had spells in games where we should have gone on to win and win well.

“There have been times when we have been unlucky. That is what happens when you are at the wrong end of the table.

“But what we have to be is more ruthless.

“And that applies to both boxes. We have to defend better and we have to take our chances when they come.

“But the key to that is everyone sticking together. Everyone is frustrated and I can 100 per cent understand the frustration of the fans.

“We had such a fantastic start to the season and it has fallen off now.

“But if we can all stay together, results will change and we will get back up the table.”

Pie and a pint: On the Hales Industrial Estate, a short walk from the ground, Dhillons Brewery offers real ales and craft beers.

Worth a look: Jamie Paterson and Craig Westcarr both scored twice as Walsall thrashed Coventry 4-0 back in April 2013.

The Key Man: Aramide Oteh. The striker hasn’t had a lot of feed off, but he has looked bright when on the ball in Walsall’s last two games.

The Opposition

It’s been a strange season for fans of Coventry City.

A decent start to the campaign – which included four straight wins in October – meant supporters of the Sky Blues started to dream their team had an outside chance of gate-crashing the play-offs.

But at the start of November they headed to the Banks’s Stadium to take on the Saddlers in the FA Cup.

Goals from Andy Cook, Josh Ginnelly and Nicky Devlin saw Dean Keates’ side come out on top in a five-goal thriller.

And Coventry’s form nosedived from there. That game sparked a run that saw Mark Robins’ side lose seven of eight matches.

But they then responded by securing consecutive victories against Charlton, Southend and Wycombe.

Momentum, it seems, is everything to this Coventry side.

And that is a worry for Walsall after they won for the first time in six games against Rochdale last time out.

As well as the game in November, Walsall also beat Coventry 2-1 in the league back in December.

That was achieved thanks to two late goals from Luke Leahy.

But having been beaten twice by Keates’ side already this season, you get the feeling the Sky Blues players will be desperate for revenge tomorrow.

Interestingly, the Cov bench is occupied by a host of Saddlers favourites.

Manager Robins played for Walsall in the 1999/2000 season.

Assistant boss Adi Viveash famously won promotion under Ray Graydon, while Coventry’s kitman is Saddlers legend Chris Marsh.

It is on the field though where Walsall need to worry.

Wolves loanee Bright Enobakhare has shone in recent weeks in a number 10 role.

But it is down the left where the Sky Blues are really strong.

Despite starting the season slowly, Chelsea loanee Dujon Sterling is now showing why he is so highly thought of at Stamford Bridge.

And in front of him, winger Luke Thomas has proved to be one of the most dangerous wingers in the division since joining on a temporary basis from Derby.

Up front, Walsall will also have to keep a close eye on former Saddlers loanee Jordy Hiwula – with the striker having netted seven goals in 29 games this season.

Dangerman: Luke Thomas. Quick, direct and with an excellent eye for a pass, Thomas is everything you want from a winger. It had been expected the Derby loanee would return to Pride Park in January. It was a huge coup for Cov to keep him.