Burton know they can't switch off in promotion race - Walsall boss Jon Whitney

Walsall's interim head coach Jon Whitney praised his team for keeping their hopes of automatic promotion alive with a comfortable 3-1 win over Fleetwood at the Banks's Stadium.

Tom Bradshaw, Paul Downing and Romaine Sawyers all netted to lift the Saddlers back to within three points of second-placed Burton with one game to play, with Devante Cole scoring a late consolation for a Fleetwood side still in need of a point to be sure of avoiding relegation.

"I said to the lads I have just got a feeling something special is going to happen this year and we have given ourselves the opportunity, but we have got to keep it going," said Walsall's former physio Whitney.

"We have got momentum and Burton know they can't switch off.

"Credit to the boys because in the first 25 minutes I thought we were absolutely outstanding against a team I respect highly."

Walsall now have to win at Port Vale next Sunday and hope Burton slip up at Doncaster, whose centre-back is former Walsall skipper Andy Butler.

And Whitney insisted: "I know Andy, he is a lion and he will be trying hard for a win, not for us but for his club and his family. They have pride.

"But we must do our job and try to get a result at Port Vale. who are a good side at home."

Walsall could yet regret, however, conceding a late goal to Fleetwood because they have a worse goal difference than Burton, if it comes down to that.

Topscorer Bradshaw gave Walsall a flying start with a fine right-footed strike into the roof of the net inside the first two minutes before centre-back Downing added a second on 18 minutes, volleying home from Anthony Forde's near-post corner.

Sawyers added a third with a low drive in off the far post on 58 minutes, but substitute Cole pulled one back with a bending shot inside the far post for the Cod Army six minutes from the end.

Fleetwood were much improved in the second half but left it too late to claim a result which would have secured their Sky Bet League One status.

"I am hugely disappointed, not only with the result, but with the performance," said Fleetwood manager Steven Pressley. "I thought we were inept.

"We were second best in many areas of the pitch. We have had a number of chances to put this to bed (the relegation threat) and this was another chance today, but we have missed it.

"It's not a nice feeling, especially with what we have served up today."

Fleetwood end their season at home to already-relegated Crewe, knowing defeat and a Blackpool win at Peterborough would send them down.