WALSALL keeper Clayton Ince today insisted the Saddlers must build on their recently restored defensive mean streak - as at the other end of the pitch Martin Butler completed his move to Grimsby.
Keeper Ince helped the Saddlers to a club record 23 clean sheets during last season's title-winning campaign, and after a more brittle start to the current campaign Walsall have now kept four shutouts in the last seven.
The 34-year-old Trinidad & Tobago international is now hoping Walsall can continue on a similar path in the hope it will once again providing the bedrock to a successful season.
"We found things a little difficult to start with and we had to adapt to playing in a higher division," he said. "We have adjusted and adapted to League One a bit more now and the results are showing that.
"It's very pleasing to have got a few clean-sheets under my belt and we must build on that.
"We've worked hard to correct the mistakes we were making earlier on in the season and we are becoming a difficult team to beat.
"Each player has been growing in confidence in whatever department they play across the pitch.
"We look hard to break down and good going forward and we must maintain those standards.
"If we can maintain a comfortable position in the table, it gives us a platform to push on from."
Striker Butler meanwhile has departed Walsall for a second time after linking up with League Two strugglers Grimsby on a three-month loan with a view to completing a permanent move in January.
And that should bring an end to a rather messy contract saga which had seen Butler fall out with chairman Jeff Bonser after claiming a verbal offer for a new deal had been withdrawn.