Jimmy Walker on the flak from fans

Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker has admitted struggling Walsall deserve all the flak they get – but it won't faze manager Chris Hutchings.

Fans again vented their anger at Hutchings in an increased show of dissent as the Saddlers clung on to a 1-1 FA Cup draw at Fleetwood on Saturday.

They survived a second-half onslaught after Ryan McGivern was sent off six minutes before the break, despite taking an early lead through Matt Richards.

Walker saved the Saddlers from embarrassment with a string of fine stops and admitted supporters have a right to be unhappy with the team.

He said: "The manager would be the first to say 'fine' if he is getting stick. We probably all deserve it at the minute because we're bottom of the league.

"We're all in it together, disharmony never helps anything, and we've got to all stick together and get a few wins. Hopefully this will kick us on.

"The fans are entitled to their opinion because they travelled there to get behind the team."

The teams will replay at the Banks's Stadium a week tomorrow for the right to travel to Torquay in the second round on November 27.

And Walker insisted the players are doing everything in their power to ease the pressure on Hutchings, after just three wins all season.

He said: "The effort is showing, the players are behind the manager and you can tell that. That's one thing which has stood out for me.

"Sometimes we've lacked a bit of quality and not done the right things at the right time but the effort isn't in question."

Walker was beaten by Jamie Mullan's speculative effort after the re-start, but twice denied Nathan Pond and produced a stunning late block to thwart Lee Thorpe.

The 37-year-old kept the Saddlers in the cup but would prefer a quiet life.

He said: "I don't want any glory, I want an easy game and a 1-0 win. My sharpness is coming back a little now, in a couple of games I'll be at a level I'd like to be.

"Hopefully I can do it for the team and get the victories we need."