Walsall squad understand fans' frustration - Harper

Walsall wing-back Vincent Harper says the squad "definitely understand" fans' frustrations at recent results but is adamant their performances are improving.

The Saddlers' poor form in 2026 has seen them slip from the top of League Two down to 11th, three points outside the play-off places.

Their hopes of automatic promotion have been replaced by a scramble to clinch a play-off place over the remaining 12 games of the season.

Despite extending their winless run at home to six matches with a 1-0 defeat by Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, the Saddlers produced a more encouraging performance against the Cod Army following their impressive win at Shrewsbury Town last weekend.

Walsall dominated possession against Fleetwood, had 30 touches in their box and fired in 18 shots, but drew another blank in the most important metric - goals.

"We feel like we definitely understand their frustrations but we feel like we're building on performances," he told BBC Radio WM.

"But to get the job done we have to be ruthless, both in our box and the opponents' box.

"I think it's almost a bit weird to say but I feel like we we've definitely built on Saturday's performance and it shows with the attempted shots that we had - but again it's just not being ruthless that's killed us."

Harper said he wanted to give the club's fans "so much credit" for the way they have supported the squad and said they "would keep using them" to help improve results.

With 12 games to go, Walsall face three of the sides above them - Notts County in fifth, seventh-placed Crewe and title-hopefuls Cambridge United - in their next four matches.

With such a potentially pivotal run, Harper said all they can do is keep believing they can make the play-offs for the second season in a row.

"You have to be positive. If you go into something negative, you're going to get a negative outcome," he said.

"We're all positive and we go into every game wanting to win and knowing we can win, but we just have to be ruthless in both boxes.

"There's a lot of belief in the squad. We know we've got great players and a great manager.

"We're all motivated to want to do better and play well and get the job done. The next four games are massive."