Walsall know the ultimate aim is promotion - Lakin

Walsall midfielder Charlie Lakin says the rejuvenated squad know they are capable of putting a run together to clinch a play-off place in League Two over the remaining seven games of the season.

The Saddlers are unbeaten in new head coach Darren Byfield's three games in charge so far, picking up seven points from a possible nine, and are just two points shy of the top seven.

This upturn in results followed a run of one win in 11 that saw the club drop out of the play-off places and trigger the departure of Mat Sadler.

Since Byfield's promotion from his role as assistant coach, Walsall have beaten play-off rivals Crewe 3-0 and secured their first home win since 26 December with their last-minute victory over Newport County.

Lakin said they feel they have the confidence to keep churning out results.

"We've got that belief within ourselves, we know that we're capable of doing it, we just have to back up the wins that we've had and put a run together which we're more than capable of doing," he told BBC Radio WM.

"We've got the win at home and we have to push on from that."

Byfield has got a swift response from the squad following a change from a back three to a 4-3-3 formation and more emphasis on attack.

"The biggest thing is obviously the shape and a different style of play," Lakin said.

"Obviously, Daz wants us to play a bit more football, get on the ball more and we've taken it in our stride.

"It's always tough seeing someone go that you're close to [Sadler] and you get on well with in the manager, so that's obviously difficult but then obviously Daz knows every player so it's not been as difficult as people might think."

Walsall are aiming to go one better than last season, when they lost in the play-off final and, like last term, they had a decent lead at the top of the table only to lose it.

With 72 points the average needed to finish in seventh, and in the final play-off spot, over the last 10 completed seasons in League Two, Walsall need four more wins to hit that mark.

But Lakin said they have not been looking at how many points they may need.

"No we haven't actually, we know what the end goal is, we've got to put a winning run together to give ourselves the best chance," he said.

"Hopefully we make it into play-offs and then push on from there."