Walsall boss hunting first day win

They start their League One kick-off at Brighton tomorrow looking to extend their remarkable opening day record.

And the Banks's Stadium club have lost just once on the first day of the season in the last 11 years – a 2-0 defeat to Ipswich in 2002 – winning seven and drawing three times.

Now, after a positive pre-season, Hutchings wants his team to maintain their summer and historical form.

He said: "They've set the standards and they need to maintain them now, that's always a test.

"In pre-season, you play so-called bigger teams like Wolves, Albion and Bristol City and sometimes you have a spring in your step to prove you can do it against those teams.

"It's when you play smaller sides, with due respect, you need to perform week in week out.

"That's always going to be the test. We see it time and time again, a smaller team can beat a bigger team on a Tuesday night but on a Saturday they will get beaten by a team they shouldn't be.

"I'd love to know the reason because then I could bottle it and make a few bob."

Hutchings has remained coy when predicting his side's prospects in League One, but he maintains they have a good chance of challenging in the division.

He said: "Everyone who starts off the season goes off with the same ambition and we're no different.

"We feel we've made progress from last season and we're one of the names in the hat to do well.

"Every manager and coach will be saying the same thing.

"We've got aspirations of doing very well, but we've got to make sure we make progress. We've got seven new faces who have come into the football club, they've settled in and gelled very quickly.

"But people forget, when you go out on a Saturday, there are 11 other guys trying to stop you what you want to do."

Hutchings is aiming to continue the club's fine opening-day form and admits, while he wants a quick start, he knows results will come.

He said: "Everyone wants to get a good start but not everyone can, it's as simple as that no matter where you play, whatever league, whatever country.

"Obviously it helps because it breeds confidence but, if it doesn't happen in the first game or the second, you would like to think it will happen sooner or later."

The Seagulls are blocking the Saddlers' path to another opening-day win and Hutchings has warned his team they cannot just focus on the Seagulls' new star striker Liam Dickinson.

He said: "They have bought the boy Dickinson from Derby who I had when I was there and Glenn Murray is a good player. They have got some good players.

"Dickinson's a danger but everyone's a danger. You go into it, you can't eliminate anyone, Nicky Forster, Dean Cox and Murray are all dangers. They can all hurt you if you let them play.

"It's a matter of trying to stop them playing and playing when you can yourselves. They will be saying the same thing.

"Their manager Russell Slade was similar to myself when he took over at Brighton last season. He has gradually stamped his own mark on the club.

"In the summer, he got the players in and had a few bob to spend which he wanted to do. It will be a test for him as well as for me."

Hutchings, who played for Brighton in the 1980s, has also dismissed the open Withdean Stadium will give the Seagulls the edge.

He said: "You play at the Withdean and they might think that's a bit of an advantage to them, but we go there open minded and know what it's all about.

"We are going down there to do a job, with all due respect we want to come to these places, get a result and get home."