Walsall defender Jamie Vincent has admitted even he would think twice about watching the under-par Saddlers and added they don’t deserve the support they get.

The left-back is set to welcome Colchester tomorrow and admits the players are on trial with their own fans after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient.

Walsall’s average home gate of 4,081 is the second lowest in League One, just ahead of Hartlepool, and after just three wins in their last 16 games stand-in skipper Vincent understands the fans frustrations.

He said: “People have come away, watched the Orient game, paid a lot of money and when they don’t see the team give a lot will they go the next time? Some people might not want to bother, I’m not sure I’d want to bother.

“The next game is even more important, you’re at home and want to do well and get a win which we haven’t done for a while. You want to do well for yourself and the fans. They can back you so far but when we played like we did at Orient we don’t deserve a lot of support.

“We want to turn it around.”

Futures are also at stake with several key men, including Vincent, out of contract at the end of the season, and the defender has called for a final push from his team-mates in the last 11 games.

He said: “I don’t know how many players are out of contract but I can probably count on one hand the amount of lads who do have a contract for next year. Everyone is fighting for one, myself included.

“We need to put the effort in during the week, impress the management and get the shirt back. Not a lot of us deserve to keep a shirt after last time.

“This week will give the manager food for thought against Colchester.”

Colchester are still hunting automatic promotion from League One despite slipping eight points behind second placed Leeds after a 2-1 defeat at Carlisle last weekend.

Vincent admits the Saddlers must win the physical fight if they want to upset the sixth placed Us.

He said: “It’s going to be a bloody hard game. I watched them on TV the other day, they are a big powerful team and you know you’re going to be in for a battle.”