League Two leaders Walsall have a greater motivation this season after missing out on promotion last term, says Shrewsbury Town boss Michael Appleton as his side try to upset the in-form Saddlers this weekend.
Town go to the Bescot Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT), aiming to pull further clear of the relegation zone against a team that has won five games in a row and seven of their last eight.
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That run of form has taken Mat Sadler’s side four points clear at the top after 19 matches.
“They’re very structured, organised and work their socks off,” Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire.
“They do the basics, and simple things, really well. They put the opposition under pressure to make mistakes and when they do, they usually punish them.”
Walsall’s charge comes after the spectacular collapse of their promotion bid last season when they squandered a 12-point lead at the turn of the year, missing out on automatic promotion on the last day and then losing in the play-off final.
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Appleton believes the determination to make up for that experience is driving them on this time round.
“They’ve got a greater motivation than anyone else,” he said.
“When you do miss out, having done as well as you did, that can galvanise you as a group. They’ve obviously done that this year.
“It’s all down to players and he’s got a really good group. They’ve recruited really well and have a formula that’s working for them.
“You know what’s coming, there won’t be too many surprises. From our point of view we have to match that and be aggressive, do the basics well and try to produce a bit of quality that might make the difference.”
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‘When you’re four points clear at the top, you don’t feel tired’
Salop, unbeaten in three games and having lost two of their last nine in the league, have had an extra day to prepare after drawing at home to Grimsby on Tuesday, 24 hours before Walsall won at Oldham.
However, Appleton does not think that will necessarily help his side.
“When you’re on a run and winning games like they are, and are four points clear at the top of the league, you don’t tend to feel tired,” he said.
“It’s only when people are asking questions of you and the anxiety slips in a little bit.
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“I don’t think we’ll get much of an advantage but I’m happy to be wrong and hopefully that’ll be the case.”
Walsall beat Shrewsbury 3-1 in the group stage of the Vertu Trophy in September [Shutterstock]
