We fear the axe admits Mattis

Dwayne Mattis today admitted the Walsall squad are living in fear of the axe as they deserve to be dropped after a humiliating defeat at Southend.

The Saddlers slumped to a 3-0 loss at the League One strugglers last night after having Clayton McDonald sent off 10 minutes before half time.

Mattis skippered the team in the absence of the suspended Mark Hughes and says the players don't deserve their shirts after an abject performance which left them 12^th in League One.

He said: "We can't keep making excuses, it's not good enough.

"I don't think anyone could complain if the manager brought them out of the team after a performance like that. If he makes six or seven changes and you're the one who comes out of the team you deserve to.

"Jamie Vincent had a good game but there aren't any more who can say they played well, it was just another poor performance and that sums up our season."

And midfielder Mattis believes the fans would be entitled to ask for their money back after the Saddlers collapsed to give Southend their first win in 13 games.

He said: "I feel for them because if I had paid that kind of money to come and watch us then I'd demand a refund.

"We don't know, the management don't know, the fans and everyone associated with the club just don't know why we're so inconsistent. It's sad after doing so well at home against Colchester with 10 men we go to Southend and get walloped.

"It hurts us all and anyone who says it doesn't is wrong. It hurts us just as much as anyone else and we can't get our heads round it."

But the 28-year-old could be forced out of the trip to Exeter on Saturday after limping off with a reoccurrence of his Achilles problem and says he is a major doubt.

"The way it feels now there's no chance but we'll see," he said.

"It's quite sore, it cleared up after I had an injection on it two months ago but the last two or three weeks it's started to get sore again. I'll probably have another scan on it and see what the best way forward is."