Call for Walsall to 'smash' Hartlepool

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has told his frustrated players - 'get ready to smash Hartlepool's door down.'

They go to Victoria Park tomorrow needing a win to steer themselves away from the League One drop zone.

Walsall are level on six points with Hartlepool in 18th and out of the relegation spots on goal difference, but a win would push them clear of early danger.

Hutchings insists confidence isn't an issue and the Saddlers, who have lost their last five games, will go all out for the win.

He said: "We are frustrated. In terms of the football it's not falling for us or going for us. It is annoying, frustrating – all of those words – but we've got to keep knocking on that door because sooner or later we're going to burst through it.

"From the players' point of view it's frustrating. It's not confidence because we've got a good bunch of lads who know what they have to do.

"We've got to keep the belief and work hard, I see no reason why we can't go there and win."

Five straight defeats in all competitions has put the mockers on any early hopes of being among the front-runners but Hutchings still believes his team deserve more from their efforts.

He said: "If you're playing badly and not winning then players know, it's not rocket science.

"Players understand and know what's what when thing are going against you. But the last three or four games we could have easily won.

"If we didn't make mistakes at Rochdale we could have won and against Colchester we had three very good chances.

"We have got to keep going and creating and we're doing that."

Hutchings is without injured skipper Darren Byfield, Steve Jones and Richard Taundry, but Wolves loanee David Davis has shaken off the shin injury which forced him off in the 2-1 defeat to Swindon last week.