Matt Richards' rallying call at Walsall

Walsall midfielder Matt Richards has blasted the Saddlers' under-achievers but insisted they can rescue their season.

The 25-year-old offered a full and frank assessment of the current campaign ahead of tonight's visit of Peterborough, admitting the players hadn't performed and let under-pressure manager Chris Hutchings down as they prop up League One.

A 1-0 defeat at 10-man Huddersfield compounded Walsall's misery and Richards - speaking from a position of authority as an ever present in the league this season - insisted they have failed so far.

He said: "Being bottom of the league isn't good enough in anyone's eyes. At the start of the season I thought we'd be at the other end of the table and it's not good enough, we need to put it right.

"The players we've got here are of great quality, no one can deny that but we have to get together as a team and show it.

"We're quick to take full praise when we win so it's down to us to take full responsibility when we lose. It's not how I should perform or the team should perform. Everyone knows we're better than that.

"We're determined to turn it around and work hard."

Richards has been one of several players to defend under-fire manager Hutchings.

The Saddlers boss is under pressure from fans to go after nine defeats from 14 League One games this season.

But Richards reiterated the team is to blame for the form which has left them five points from safety with almost a third of the season gone.

He said: "The nature of football is if the team isn't doing well it comes down on the manager but that's not his fault at all. It's the playing staff's fault. You can't go a whole season losing games.

"He was good enough to bring me in a year ago but we need to win not only for him, but for the whole club. We need to start winning because it's not good enough.

"I think we're going to get a bit of luck soon and everything is going to go our way, hopefully sooner rather than later."