Skip to content

Chambers hails clean-sheet kings

Image: James Chambers: Good defence down to whole team

James Chambers hailed Walsall's mean streak with the Saddlers now the best defence in the division.

Saturday's 0-0 draw at Coventry was their 11th shut out of the season in all competitions and they have conceded just 16 goals in League One. The Saddlers kept 13 clean sheets last season and Chambers believes the team's strong resolve has been key. The 34-year-old, who has switched to centre-back from right-back this season, said: "It's not like we're guys who are 6ft 5ins and just standing there heading and kicking it. "The way we play we need to be good on the ball and that helps. We have a side who keeps the ball well and it probably means less defending. "The midfield in front of us do a great job and keep the chances to minimum. When the chances do arise though we have a very good goalkeeper (Richard O'Donnell) who has made some really good saves. "It's the different part of the puzzle which leads to us having a good defence, it's not just the back four and goalkeeper - it's the whole team." Dean Smith's side have only lost once in their last eight games and are on a five-match unbeaten run in the league. They are 13th after recovering from a difficult start and Chambers insisted their faith is being rewarded. He said: "You always want to prove yourself right, that you are a good player, a good team and can achieve things. When things don't go to plan people start jumping on the bandwagon and saying 'this isn't right or that isn't right'. "But here we feel we have a good squad which is capable of performing. Although you want to prove people wrong it's about proving ourselves right. "Sometimes it does get tough so what do you do? Change everything you're about and go a different road or stick to what you believe in and the manager has proven to have been right before. "He believes in his own philosophy and for us it's easy to follow in his footsteps. It's not always going to work but it's about believing in what you do."

Around Sky