Chris Hutchings turns on boo-boys

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has turned on the Saddlers' boo-boys and branded their criticism "unjust" despite defeat against Peterborough.

The team were booed off amid calls for Hutchings to quit after a 3-1 loss at the Banks's Stadium last night left them rooted to the bottom of League One.

Hutchings has always insisted he will not resign despite winning just three times this season and felt the taunts were unfair after a valiant effort.

He said: "They can see the lads are giving 100 per cent and I think it was a bit unjust. If they do question the effort on that performance they are watching a different game.

"It affects players, they get a little bit despondent and low on confidence but you have to be man enough and big enough to get through it and I'm sure we will. If we keep performing like that we will win.

"The players worked extremely hard and they are gutted because they deserved more out of the game.

"We'll dust ourselves down and go again."

Hutchings added calls for his head do not bother him, despite the mounting pressure.

He said: "Not when we can perform like that, we've got to make sure we do it again and again."

Julian Gray's third of the season gave the Saddlers hope after Ryan Bennett and Arron Davies put Posh in charge.

Kelvin Langmead's scrappy goal settled the contest and Hutchings, who handed Barnsley loanee Liam Dickinson a debut, felt his side deserved more than they got.

He said: "When you're down there that's what happens to you.

"You have to keep working hard and hope it will turn, we'll play worse than that and win this season."

The manager also believes the Saddlers can take great heart from their performance against the division's 32-goal top scorers.

He said: "I said to the lads, we've got to keep believing and working.

"It hasn't quite gone for us but if we show the effort, commitment and the quality we'll be OK. We played well and people like Martin Devaney put others on the back foot.

"We've got to be hungry for success and I'm sure we'll turn the corner."