Walsall v Newport preview: Dan Scarr adamant that the goals will come for Saddlers

The Saddlers host Newport County tonight aiming to quickly bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Crewe, their first League Two loss under new boss Darrell Clarke.

Though there was again plenty to admire in the performance, Clarke’s team paid the price for not taking their chances, a common theme during the early weeks of the campaign.

But while Scarr admits a sense of frustration, the defender is confident the goals will soon start to flow.

He said: “It’s still early doors and we are still gelling as a team. I think we are getting into good areas which is a positive thing.

“When we do start getting the goals, they’ll start flooding in. We are dominating teams for long periods of time.

“Once we get those goals I think we’ll be able to put games to bed – a bit like at Northampton on the opening day of the season when we got the goal and shut up shop early. We’re going to be alright.”

Former Stourbridge ace Scarr remains a relative novice to League football having made only 47 appearances since leaving the Glassboys for Blues in January, 2017.

But the 24-year-old, who signed a two-and-a-half year deal at the Banks’s last January, is already targeting a second promotion from League Two, having helped Wycombe go up while on loan at Adams Park in 2018.

Scarr sees similarities between that team and the one Clarke has assembled with the Saddlers.

“I haven’t gone into any game thinking this is going to be a tough game,” he explained.

“I’ve gone into every game confident and during the game I’ve got more confident. I don’t feel like we are going to give away chances or goals.

“I always feel we are going to win the game and that is what we had at Wycombe.

“It’s only the third game so it’s hard to create that so early. But we have got it early and we are only going to get stronger.”

While a return of two goals scored in three matches might be cause for concern, two goals conceded over the same period gives obvious reason for encouragement.

Centre-back Scarr has started all three league fixtures to date, with boss Clarke displaying a willingness to switch between three and four at the back depending upon the opposition.

“I think it’s good we have those options and we trust the gaffer with what he wants to do,” he said.

“He is a gaffer that likes to roll the dice and I think that is what you need.

“Whether he plays a three at the back or a four, whatever personnel he chooses, we all trust what he is doing. We have worked hard in pre-season no matter who the personnel is. We all know our jobs and we start games on the front foot.

“We are very tight and very hard to break down. In all three league games we have defended very well.

“Teams haven’t looked like scoring against us.”