Boss Hutchings primes side to fire
Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has urged his strikers to keep buying the goal-den ticket if they are to break their goalscoring hoodoo.
The Saddlers head to Charlton tomorrow having scored just one goal from open play – Andrew Whing's own goal at Brighton – so far this season.
Sam Parkin has netted two penalties in the last two games while Steve Jones and Alex Nicholls' strikes have come from indirect free-kicks.
It has left boss Hutchings telling his players they must gamble in the box to start hitting the net regularly.
He said: "If you keep buying the raffle tickets eventually you will win the raffle. We have to keep creating opportunities.
"We're not saying they're not working hard up front, sometimes you don't get a chance, but you have got to keep knocking on the door, so that eventually when the ball drops you are in the right place at the right time.
"We've got to be creative and the wide men we have are creative. It's just getting on the end of them.
"Our midfield players must also be in positions that, when it comes out of the box, they can get shots in.
"It's little things which need to be worked on and we do on a daily basis."
Hutchings is now hoping the trip to promotion favourites Charlton will inspire a display from his charges, but insists they must perform wherever they play.
He said: "You've got to do it every week. There's no point doing it one week and then playing Hartlepool the following week and not producing.
"We've got to find the consistency levels – not only for the team but individually as well. It doesn't matter where you play, you've got to go and perform."
Dwayne Mattis returns from suspension, while Matt Richards has recovered from the concussion he suffered against Leeds and Mark Bradley is fit after losing a tooth on Tuesday.
It all means Hutchings has a selection dilemma ahead of a trip to a side who were in the Premier League three years ago – but expects a tough test whoever he picks.
"You know it's going to be a good atmosphere, it's always a hard place to go and get a result.
"It's tough down there but it's a game we're looking forward to. I don't see any reason why we can't go down and get a result.
"I know they've won their last three games but we could have won the other night. We'll respect them but not fear them."
