Express & Star

Walsall strikers will find range – Darrell Clarke

Darrell Clarke believes it is only a matter of time before Walsall’s misfiring strikers start to find their range.

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The Saddlers host Newport County tonight having netted only twice in their opening three League Two fixtures.

Clarke remains determined to bolster his forward ranks before the transfer window closes on September 2, though no new additions are expected until after Saturday’s match at Plymouth.

The boss is confident those already at the club will find their feet.

He said: “The strikers will improve, there is no doubt about that.

“We’ll add one to the mix before the window shuts as well to give us good, healthy competition for places.

“I can’t fault the lads I really can’t. I think we are nearly there, nearly there. I can’t fault the effort and commitment.”

Summer signing Caolan Lavery made his first start in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Crewe, but while the former Sheffield United ace missed a golden chance to score, Clarke saw plenty of promise.

“He hasn’t had a pre-season and there is a lot more to come from him,” he said. “Josh Gordon looks lively too, but he’s got to work on his end product.

“We will assess after the Plymouth game with seven or eight days left of the window.

“There are a couple of positions I’d like to strengthen and I will strengthen. I just want the fans to stick with us, but I’m sure they will.”

Newport, last season’s beaten play-off finalists, arrive at the Banks’s unbeaten having taken five points from their opening three league fixtures. Clarke anticipates a tightly-contested match.

“It’s another game and this is real tough division,” he continued. “There is not a lot between the teams from what I’ve seen in the three games.

“And from what I have watched in the other teams, there is not a lot in the division whatsoever. It’s about starting another run now.

“We have got a good set and I think you can see that the way the fans get behind the team.

“They can see it’s a work in progress. They can see an honest group of players who are giving it a right go at the minute.

“I think we have edged most of the games we have played in terms of stats and territory. We just need to be more clinical.”