Off-field rows no worry for Hutchings

Walsall chief Chris Hutchings insists the Saddlers will ignore any off field turmoil and concentrate on a grandstand finish after their fightback over Tranmere.

Darren Byfield's winner extended the team's unbeaten run to three games on Saturday, after Manny Smith scored at both ends in the first half.

The game saw more protests against chairman Jeff Bonser and chief executive Roy Whalley but Hutchings insists his team aren't interested about the off field rows.

He said: "All we're concentrating on is the football. That's what it's all about and we got a result, as we did in the last home game against Wycombe.

"The fans got behind the team, it's as simple as that. We're concentrating on the football and that's all which matters in our eyes.

"We got the three points and are looking forward to the next game."

But Hutchings was quick to praise the Saddlers' fighting spirit, after the setback of Smith's 26^th minute own goal. The defender equalised nine minutes later to leave his manager purring.

He said: "They've all got good sprit and worked extremely hard for one another. What we lack in quality we make up with effort and work rate.

"We always want that bit more quality but we won't always have it, that's not questioning the boys because they work very hard."

A win kept the Saddlers 13^th in League One after seven points from nine against Stockport, Wycombe and Rovers, three of the division's strugglers.

Hutchings is pleased with the return and has now targeted extending their unbeaten run, starting at Huddersfield tomorrow.

He said: "We believed we could do the double over them and make it back to back wins. At the start of these games we said we were looking for nine points and we've got seven.

"In the circumstances against Stockport where we were down to 10 men all credit to the lads. Now we have to go on a little run and win as many as we can."

Walsall will assess the calf injury Alex Nicholls ahead of the trip to Huddersfield, after the striker limped out late on.

Hutchings added: "We've got Troy Deeney back and Alex has got a slight calf problem, so we'll see how he is."