Brentford no different for Hutchings

The Bees manager chief was approached by Peterborough to succeed Darren Ferguson last week, but Posh instead plumped for Kettering chief Mark Cooper.

Since then they have drawn 2-2 with Millwall and set up an FA Cup second round tie with the Saddlers with a 5-2 replay win over Gateshead on Tuesday.

Hutchings now takes his team to West London tomorrow in searched of a fourth successive win but reckons Brentford won't be troubled by Scott's near exit.

He said: "I don't think it will affect them though it depends where you are in the league. If you are at the top and lose your manager it could have an effect, but players just get on with things most of the time.

"Whoever is going to be manager is talked about one day and then they talk about the next one coming in. It's down to the individual but they've got to look after themselves, no matter who is manager, they've got to play for their families and it's their living."

But Hutchings believes Scott has done an impressive job at Griffin Park after guiding the Bees to the League Two title last season.

The Walsall boss said: "Andy has done a great job, he went in and they were sliding down the table, he stopped the rot and has done good things.

"All credit to him and the players he's got. He's got them playing. He'd like to be higher up the league but he shows great probably."

After singing Scott's praises Hutchings turned his attention to former charge Lewis Price, as the Brentford goalkeeper played under Paul Jewell and Hutchings at Derby.

The Saddlers chief said: "I know what he's like, I know his strengths and weaknesses so no doubt he'll be hoping to keep a clean sheet, as all goalkeepers do.

"He was at Derby and he's been in the Welsh set-up for a long time. He's gone to Brentford to play games and we know all about him. It'll be nice to see him again.

"Any goalkeeper can frustrate, we know what we're like and if you say they're crap on crosses they'll come and catch everything.

"If you speak about them too much they normally have a blinder. We know what we've got to do, we know their strengths and we've got to nullify their strengths and play well on the day. If you don't do that you don't normally win games."

Walsall will miss Jamie Vincent and Richard Taundry with calf and hamstring injuries respectively, but goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin has trained all week and is available after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring tear.

The Bees welcome back on-loan Tottenham wonderkid John Bostock, who missed Tuesday's win over Gateshead due to England Under-19 duty, but are without defender Mark Phillips and goalkeeper Nikki Bull, who have respective knee and shoulder problems.

Bostock scored twice on his debut in the 2-2 draw with Millwall last weekend but Hutchings reckons Brentford can threaten from anywhere.

He said: "We had them watched they had a good 5-2 win in the week so we've done our homework. We know what they're all about. They've got good pace in the side out wide and Charlie MacDonald and Ben Strevens up top have always scored goals. Strevens in League One last year and MacDonald has always scored wherever he's been.

"We've got to look to continue on the run we are on."

The Saddlers will return to Griffin Park next Saturday with the teams matching up in the FA Cup, but Bees boss Scott insists they are only focusing on the league game.

He said: "We'll concentrate on Walsall in the league and only worry about the second round of the cup when it comes around.

"I hate to disappoint Brentford fans but we are not going to win the cup, however, we will attempt to win every game we play in it and do our best.

"Now it takes a back seat as we have two big games against Walsall and Wycombe on Tuesday. We need to turn in the same performance levels we have done over the last two games, improve on some aspects and take that into the Walsall game.

"We probably should have won against Millwall and we won against Gateshead, so we have got a bit of confidence. We need to make the most of that."