Is there any ho ho ho hope for Walsall?

Walsall will be hoping for the Christmas gift of league one survival this year, as captain Darren Byfield cancels the team festive celebration who urges his players to focus for the battle of their careers.

Walsall are in desperate need of some points and sit at the foot of the table as the festive period looms.

The league table on Christmas day has long been a strong indicator of the final standings and league One is no different. In the last three seasons, three out of the four relegated teams have been in the drop zone on Christmas day.

n keeping with this tradition, Walsall were 10th last Christmas, their ultimate position of the 2009-2010 season.

Crocked skipper Darren Byfield announced this week that a Christmas celebration was not apt for the Saddlers predicament and cancelled the festivities for the team. He wrote in his blog on the official site: ‘we want to concentrate on getting off the bottom of the League before we go out.’

Time is ticking for the Saddlers to dig themselves out before the big as they face only high flying Charlton away on Sunday and Southampton, currently 9th, next weekend. Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day and Dagenham and Redbridge 2 days later then completes the Walsall action for 2010.

After a short break from the drama as the nation froze over, the festive period will no doubt be a hectic one at the Banks’s, but fingers crossed the players will have earned a few beers down the local come January!