No extra pleasure in old pals battle

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings won't take any extra pleasure if the Saddlers derail Colchester's promotion charge as he bids to outwit pal Aidy Boothroyd.

The manager faces off with his former Huddersfield boot boy at the Banks's Stadium tomorrow with the visitors gunning for promotion.

Hutchings' men look set for a mid-table finish after last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient left them 19 points adrift of Colchester in sixth.

United are five points clear of Huddersfield with a game in hand, despite earning just one point from the last three games.

The Saddlers also face Swindon and Huddersfield and could have a major say on who makes the play-offs, but Hutchings isn't concerned about upsetting the top six or his good friend.

He said: "I won't be taking any more pleasure. It's another three points, that's what we're looking to do and Aidy is looking to do. It's nice to try and beat one of the teams above you, it's an incentive in itself.

"This is the most important one and that's what we've got to deal with, there's no point winning Saturday and then losing to the next two teams below you. We'll deal with Saturday first and then see where that takes us.

"Colchester lost at Carlisle and will be looking to put it right. Aidy will want to get his side back on track. They've got one foot in the play-offs but it's easy for outsiders to say it. Knowing him they won't be settling for anything yet.

"It's not finished and there are plenty of games to go where the scenarios could change. If they lost a couple on the spin or Swindon lose two and Huddersfield win things can change very quickly.

"It's possible they could still get an automatic spot, whether they do remains to be seen, but while it's in your sights you've got to aim for it.

"Once those automatic spots go you're looking to cement your play-off place."

The Saddlers lost 2-1 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in October despite dominating large spells of the game.

Hutchings feels his men deserved the points that day and reckons Colchester will be wary of their threat this time around.

He said: "Down there we should have won the game and we played very well. They know what we can do on any given day. We have to make sure that day is tomorrow.

"The two big lads at the front are two strong robust lads and they're a handful. Let's not forget that, they can score goals and have (David) Prutton in midfield who has experience.

"It's going to be a tough game, they play direct to the big lads. They play to their strengths and what Aidy has at his disposal and good luck to them, they cause problems."

Rhys Weston is Hutchings' only absentee with a hamstring injury. Matt Richards is available after suspension while Sam Parkin and Dwayne Mattis are fit again.

But Hutchings was giving nothing away, despite last weekend's disappointing outing in London.

He said: "We've got some options so we'll work on a few things and look at their strengths. It gives us food for thought.

"All of a sudden we play Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday and you need the squad available to you."

Boothroyd is without the suspended Kemal Izzet and the injured Paul Reid, but is expected to recall John-Joe O'Toole after a knock.

And the Albion's ex-academy director is confident his team can improve and reach the play-offs, despite their recent wobble.

He said: "It's important not to worry too much about the opposition. Yes, we have to respect them because if you don't then they end up beating you, which is what happened at Carlisle.

"We move forward and we will make sure that we continue to focus on what we're doing and how we can get better as a team. Of everyone who's in that pack, we're the one team who is getting - and can get - better.

"We have to eradicate the kind of mistakes we made at Carlisle. Every game is a pressure situation and every game is there to be won. The next three games are really big for us in terms of us making sure we stay with the top-two.

"It's important that we focus on what we do and how we react to certain situations."