Walsall midfielder Matt Richards has vowed that the Saddlers will turn their season around – because it can’t get any worse.

The team go to Huddersfield tomorrow knowing only a win can ease the pressure on boss Chris Hutchings.

The manager has come under fire after just one win in the last 11 games – and just three all season – which has left the Saddlers joint bottom of League One.

They are locked on 11 points with Dagenham and Redbridge and are only off the bottom on goal difference.

A 4-1 defeat at home to Tranmere last weekend compounded their woes and led to vocal calls for the manager’s head.

But Richards expects results to improve – despite a daunting November against five of the top eight – because the Saddlers are already at rock bottom.

He said: “Something has got to give soon, it can’t go on like this. It’s not as if we are not trying or putting in the effort. We’ve got a couple of tough games coming up but it will give us an extra bit of desire to win.

“It’s not an easy time but I can guarantee it’s going to get better because it’s not going to go on all season like this.

“Winning is the main thing, it’s all about winning – that’s all it is. We can’t affect anything that’s happened, we have to go in with as much confidence as we can and look forward to winning.

“The four points from six against Exeter and Dagenham were very encouraging but then to lose 4-1 at home to Tranmere was very disappointing. We couldn’t continue the run and build on it.

“As I said we can’t affect it now, there’s nothing we can do. We have to focus on Huddersfield and prepare as well as we can.”

Richards revealed his pain over the disastrous last few months, insisting the players have let everyone down.

He said: “The performances haven’t been good enough, we’ll be the first to admit that but we’ve got to work at it. It’s disappointing and we’ve let the people watching us down.

“It’s down to us to get the results. At the end of the day, when it comes to 3pm it’s down to the players. There’s only so much the coaching staff can do. It’s our responsibility.

“It’s more to do with us than anyone else. We’re the ones who should be blamed because the coaching staff aren’t out there. As a team it’s the 11 players out on the pitch who should do it.

“We’ve played badly at times, I’ll be the first to admit that.”

Richards, who will make his 60th Walsall appearance tomorrow, will partner Richard Taundry in midfield after the 21-year-old reacted well following his return from eight weeks out with a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker is in line for an immediate start after his shock return today.

But Darren Byfield is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from a knee injury while Stoke loanee Andrew Davies is out for up to a month with a thigh tear.

Clayton McDonald or Oliver Lancashire are in line to replace him while Darryl Westlake, who was the subject of an unofficial loan enquiry by Lincoln last week, could replace the out-of-form Aaron Lescott.

Huddersfield are missing Lee Novak, Gary Naismith, Tom Clarke and Gary Roberts but can recall former Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson, on loan from Plymouth.

Lee Clark’s men fell 2-1 to Plymouth last week but remain fifth in League One having lost just once at the Galpharm Stadium all season.

But Richards reckons Walsall can upset the odds and claim an unlikely win in Yorkshire.

He said: “No-one in the country is expecting us to win but we’re capable of doing it.

“Last year we turned over Leeds at Elland Road so we’ve got to build ourselves up. It’s a big game for us, they have got a big squad and we can let our frustrations out on them.

“I go into every game with confidence but this one seems like we’re determined to kick-start things and draw a line under everything.”