Walsall need fire in their eyes says Martin O'Connor
Interim boss Martin O’Connor says he will look into the eyes of his players to assess whether they are ready for Walsall’s crucial clash against Peterborough.
The Saddlers host Darren Ferguson’s side at the Banks’s Stadium tomorrow knowing they likely have to win each of their final two games to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
Walsall enter the match on the back of a dreadful run that has seen them fail to seize the initiative in the race for survival.
After defeats to Oxford and Accrington, O’Connor’s men then failed to win over the Easter weekend, with a draw against Southend followed by defeat at Wycombe. And O’Connor admits confidence in the camp is low with the team now winless in their last eight.
“There are a few who are wounded shall we say, probably with their egos and attitude,” the caretaker manager said.
“Psychologically I think it has been a tough Easter. We haven’t really performed and it is one of those now where we have to rally the troops and see who is up for the next two games.
“I am one of those people where my glass is half full and I’ve been the same all week as we’ve prepared for Peterborough.
“We have done our sessions, we have worked on offensive patterns to try and get some creativity into the team.
“But I think the team will pick itself. I’ll look them all in the eye and I will see who is up for the battle.”
Walsall have struggled to create in their last three outings in particular and O’Connor has told his players they must start playing without fear.
“We have rallied all week and now it’s up to me to try and get a performance from 11 Walsall players who are proud to wear the shirt,” the 51-year-old continued. “We had a meeting after the Wycombe game and things were said.
“I am all for positivity and I am all for people getting things off their chest if that’s because they want to try and put things right.
“The club at the moment is all about the players and the players just aren’t performing at the moment.
“We’ve all watched the games. We seem tentative, nervous, a bit fearful and even a bit scared at times and that’s something I’m not used to if I am honest.
“It is something that we have to eradicate. We have to perform against Peterborough.”
