Weston's defence of Walsall's season

Walsall defender Rhys Weston has launched a defence of the Saddlers' flagging season and believes the critics need to get off their backs.

The team have slipped to 14th in League One after just four wins in 19 games to leave any hopes of a promotion push in tatters.

But defender Weston believes their detractors need to be more realistic.

He said: "I think we've exceeded expectations to a point this season. You read forums and you see in the press people are disappointed with how we've been doing, but that's a mark how far we've come as a team.

"I think as a group we've done as well as we could have done. Results haven't gone as well as we'd like but we still believe in ourselves.

"We have got eight games left and we just want to win as many games as possible."

The right-back is adamant confidence has not been hit despite the Saddlers' disappointing form since December, including Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Exeter.

Weston said: "I'm still confident in our ability as a squad and football is a confidence game to a degree. All we can do is focus and concentrate to prepare ourselves properly for the next one.

"We have got Stockport away on Saturday, it's a difficult game and we have to be 100 per cent focused. We have to dust ourselves off and go again.

"It's not a sob story. We're being found wanting in the final third but you can't question the commitment of the players.

"A contentious decision cost us a point on Saturday."