Hutchings ponders squad rotation

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings will considering rotating his team after admitting they were tired following their stalemate with Bristol Rovers.

The Saddlers battled to a second goalless draw in seven days at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday and travel to the Pirates for their rearranged clash tomorrow night. The hosts struggled to create for much of the game, with Hutchings putting their low-key performance down to fatigue.

Despite a thin squad, the manager may have to start resting some of his stars.

He said: "We might have to look at that now. We had a few tired legs out there, we've put a lot of effort into the last few games and we showed we were a little leg weary.

"We were tired from the efforts on Tuesday against Charlton and you have to take everything into consideration. One or two players are very young and all in all we haven't got beaten and we've gone three unbeaten.

"We'll assess it and see how it goes. Everyone who is fit will be in my thoughts so everyone will have to wait and see."

Sam Parkin replaced the suspended Troy Deeney but fed on scraps with Darren Byfield also struggling to make an impact.

But the Saddlers created the best chance of the game when Clayton McDonald's injury time header struck the bar.

Hutchings admits, had the defender scored, it would have been harsh on the visitors.

He said: "It probably would have been, yes. It would have been a great time to score but a draw was probably a fair result. It was a great chance and we felt he should have scored. It was a very tough match and the pitch made it difficult for both sides.

"They both tried to get it down and play which caused some mistakes and it was a very itty-bitty game."

But the boss praised his defence, who kept their second clean sheet in three games, after they refused to buckle when Rovers pressed in the second half.

He said: "It was a clean sheet and that's what you have to draw on. Clayton McDonald and Jamie Vincent did very well at the centre of defence again. Jamie is a very calming influence and good organiser.

"The others have benefitted from him because you have an 18-year-old, a 20-year-old and a 21-year-old in the back four and they need that bit of help and experience, Jamie has that in abundance.

"Darryl Westlake was steady, he tired and we expect and demand a lot from him. He's got to work hard to maintain the levels he's set so far, but he's a good kid."

Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope, whose team had only gained one point from their last 27 on the road prior to Saturday's game, felt the visitors deserved the victory.

He said: "It was a performance of a good level. The players showed what we're all about, there was a lot of spirit, commitment, we defended well and produced a lot of good football.

"On another day and on a better pitch we may have created or taken one or two more chances which would have won us the game, which we felt we deserved."