From runaway leaders to vulnerable promotion hopefuls — Walsall’s League Two season has taken a dramatic and concerning turn.
The Saddlers were 12 points clear in January. Now, following a torrid stretch of two wins in 17 matches, they are just barely clinging to an automatic promotion spot.
How did it all go so wrong?
It’s easy to point to Nathan Lowe’s return to Stoke as the tipping point. But the truth is more complex. Walsall’s fragility appears rooted in confidence and cohesion — two vital components that have slipped away. Following Lowe’s departure, veteran striker Jamille Matt was forced off with an injury in the very next game. The team lost 3-0 to Bradford and hasn’t looked the same since.
The goals have dried up. The defence, once steely and unbreakable, is leaking. Worse still, Walsall’s once-fluid attacking movement has been replaced with hesitation and fear. According to Matt, it’s not through lack of effort.
“Confidence can take a knock. Before, if we had that bit of a knock, it was easier to kind of brush it off… You are still the same player whether your confidence is low or high so it is within your control to change it.”
Matt speaks not just as a player, but as someone with a psychology degree and the experience of 46 games this season. He knows the mental battle. And it’s that battle Walsall are losing now more than anything physical or tactical.
Other setbacks haven’t helped. Injuries to key players like George Hall and Jack Earing disrupted the team’s rhythm. Opponents have also adapted, recognising Walsall’s threat and adjusting to neutralise their play. Perhaps, as Matt notes, Walsall have become victims of their own early-season success.
There is, however, no disunity behind the scenes. Matt is full of praise for manager Mat Sadler, dismissing fan frustration as short-sighted.
Sadler, a rookie manager when he took over, signed a new contract in January. He’s seen as a calming influence, and Matt credits his presence as a key factor in the team’s cohesion. Calls for his dismissal seem knee-jerk in the context of Walsall’s overall progress this season.
Looking ahead, the squad knows what’s at stake. Four games remain, and the margin for error has all but disappeared. But Matt, who grew up in the shadow of Walsall’s old training ground, says the squad are determined to finish what they started — especially for the fans.
Site Opinion
Walsall’s implosion is hard to ignore, but writing them off would be premature. With just a sliver of belief and a single win to reignite their campaign, this team could still finish strong. What they need now isn’t tactics — it’s trust. Trust in each other, in Sadler, and in the mission they started. Matt’s passion is obvious, and if his mentality spreads through the squad, promotion is still possible — just a little harder earned than they’d hoped.
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