Darren Byfield's quip for former boss

Walsall striker Darren Byfield has turned up the heat on Peterborough boss Gary Johnson and claimed the pressure is on his former manager - not the Saddlers.

Posh travel to the Banks's Stadium tonight and Byfield could make his comeback after six weeks out with a knee injury, against the man who released him at Bristol City in 2008.

Johnson had to deny yesterday that he was thinking of quitting Posh following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

And Saddlers captain Byfield insisted, despite the hosts being bottom of League One, fifth-placed Peterborough are the ones under pressure.

He said: "Gary likes his teams to play and he has some very good players there, so he'll feel like a failure if they don't get promoted this season.

"The strikers he's got are the best in the league, Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd, are all exceptional and I expect them to go up."

While Byfield doesn't hold any grudges against Johnson, the 34-year-old aimed a veiled jibe at his former boss following their time at Ashton Gate.

He said: "I enjoyed working with the players who were there. Gary Johnson is a decent manager to be honest but it was more the players I enjoyed being around.

"It wasn't necessarily the manager."

Johnson has questioned his influence at Posh after back-to-back defeats following Saturday's 3-0 reverse.

They have slipped to fifth and the manager has doubted his skills.

He said: "You have to look at yourself and say 'is it me?' because if it's me you're better off not being around.

"You have to discuss that with your staff and see whether that's the problem.

"If the chairman feels it is the problem then that's down to him of course."

But Johnson insisted he wasn't thinking of quitting just seven months after moving to London Road.

His opposite number at Walsall, the under-pressure Chris Hutchings, has also urged struggling Walsall not to give up hope.

Fans are calling for the club to take action after nine defeats in 14 league games but Hutchings has declared he will not quit.

The manager instead insists his players must believe in themselves if they are to beat the division's 29-goal top scorers.

He said: "There has to be belief and we will go into tonight's game with a steely determination to get back to winning ways on home soil.

"Peterborough will provide stern opposition. They are a talented side with plenty of attacking threat who will be looking to make an immediate return to the Championship.

"We have been working hard behind the scenes to strengthen the squad and increase competition for places.

"It was a real boost to be able to bring in Jimmy Walker at the end of last week. He has the experience that we need at this time.

"He's a strong character and an organiser, the type of person who will get people going."