Season starts here for Matt Richards

Walsall midfielder Matt Richards has insisted the Saddlers will turn their stuttering campaign around and declared - "the season starts here."

The 25-year-old is determined to revitalise the team, as they remain stuck in the League One relegation zone after nine games.

They host Yeovil on Saturday eager to get back on track following a morale-boosting point at Leyton Orient on Tuesday, after losing six straight matches.

And Richards, the star performer in the goalless draw, wants to forget about their wretched start and look to the future.

He said: "We've got the confidence that we can get it out of our heads and start the season here. We've got to put it right and it's important for the whole team and the club.

"We can't do anything about the start now and there's no point in worrying about it. We've got to look at the next games. The ones coming up are very important.

"Yeovil and Exeter are games we've got to take six points from. We can turn that awful run into a positive run now and we can build on the result. We've got two home games coming up.

"We have to work hard and I think we can improve on Tuesday's result and go forward."

Richards echoed his team-mates who have leapt to the defence of under-pressure manager Chris Hutchings by insisting the players are to blame for their false start.

He said: "It's not just the manager, it's the whole team who are under pressure. It's our own fault, it's not the manager's fault.

"We're out there to get results and we haven't done it."

Walsall will still be without crocked trio Steve Jones, Darren Byfield and Richard Taundry on Saturday.

Jones was expected to return to training this week, but the Saddlers are being extra cautious after his sprained ankle.

Jonathan Macken and Oliver Lancashire limped out of the draw with Orient but are expected to be fit.