Walsall's relegation scrap will go to the wire – Dean Keates

Back-to-back defeats to Portsmouth and Sunderland have seen the Saddlers fall into League One's bottom four with eight games still to play.

Next up Keates' men welcome promotion hopefuls Barnsley to the Banks's Stadium in a match which kicks off at noon on Saturday.

And when asked if he feels the battle to avoid the drop is likely to go down to the final few games, Keates admitted he feels it probably will.

"If I’m honest it probably will (go to the wire)," the boss said.

"We have now got a massive game against Barnsley. We kick off early and if we can go and get three points it puts everyone else under pressure.

"That is the way we are looking at it this week.

"We will prepare right, we are disappointed with the last two results but we can’t be downhearted.

"It’s been fine margins, against Sunderland we gave an opportunity to a multi-million pound striker (Will Grigg) and he’s taken it.

"But I thought we did enough to get a point from the game."

Meanwhile, promising Saddlers striker Dylan Parker has joined National League North side Leamington on loan until the end of the season.

The teenager had been on loan at Rushall Olympic but has now moved up a division to join the Brakes.

"I loved it at Rushall but it's a step up and I'm happy to be playing a higher level of football," Parker said.

"I really enjoyed my time at Rushall. All the lads were nice, the management was good and it was good football. I learned about how physical non-league football is.

"This is the league above and it's about getting as much game time as I can at a good level.

"I can't wait to try a different standard of football and I'm hoping for a couple of goals before the end of the season."