It's a cup final for under-fire Walsall

The FA Cup can make or break a season - and never has it been more important for Walsall to make it through a tie.

As the pressure mounts and the club's hierarchy remain silent, it is easy to forget there is a cup replay tonight.

Non-league Fleetwood arrive at the Banks's Stadium aiming to drive another nail into boss Chris Hutchings' coffin.

The game represents the manager's biggest of his 22-month reign, following a disastrous campaign which has left the Saddlers bottom of League One.

They have already been dumped out of both the League Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the first stage and another embarrassing exit would be the final insult.

Defeat is unthinkable and would plunge the club further into crisis and the manager closer to the edge.

But a win could provide the spark for a revival and it is that the Saddlers boss and his players are clinging to.

They were handed a second chance after a 1-1 draw at the Highbury Stadium 10 days ago, during which Ryan McGivern was sent off and Steve McNulty missed a penalty for the hosts.

They are desperate for a win - following just three victories in 19 games - and even one against a Blue Square Premier club would be welcome, with a second round trip to Torquay the reward on offer.

And midfielder Paul Marshall insists the Saddlers will not take Fleetwood lightly - especially after being caught cold by the Cod Army last time.

He said: "No-one expected them to be as good as they were, they passed it about and didn't go long.

"But we know that now and we're not going to underestimate them, we're better players than them and should win.

"I was surprised with how much they passed it last time, but we had 10 men and that made a difference.

"It's a big game for us and could be a banana skin. But, if we play like we did in the first-half at Bournemouth, we'll have no worries."

Marshall felt the 3-0 defeat to the Cherries was harsh on the Saddlers, despite their second-half no-show, which saw Josh McQuoid add to his 30th minute strike and complete a hat-trick.

They must improve to avoid an upset tonight and Marshall believes the players must shoulder a collective responsibility rather than point fingers.

He said: "It's no-one in particular. It's us as a group, we're not playing anywhere near well enough.

"In the first-half we played well but went in 1-0 down. We need to cut the mistakes out, it's mistake after mistake and it's a poor way to lose.

"You can point to the manager all you want but there's nothing he could have done about the first two goals on Saturday. They were identical, so it's poor from us. It's not down to him.

"We shoot ourselves in the foot all the time, we switch off and it's a goal, but I don't think 3-0 reflected the game.

"It was poor defending and it's always a free header off a cross and a corner.

"It's frustrating for me and the rest of the team."

Marshall is hoping to help the Saddlers address their slide after starting for the first time in two months on Saturday.

The 21-year-old former Manchester City prospect admitted he had knocked on Hutchings' door to ask why he had been axed.

He said: "I did at first but he said to keep working hard in training and take my chance.

"It's quite difficult but it's football. I come to training with Jonathan Macken and he tells me to keep at it and he's been a big help.

"I've not let my head drop, done well in training but I'm in the team to create stuff and hopefully I can do more of that.

"I came off with cramp on Saturday but the manager thought I played well, so hopefully I'll be in the team tonight."

McGivern is suspended following his red card in the first game while Macken, Clayton McDonald and Martin Devaney are all expected to shake off calf and hamstring problems.

Andy Butler is not eligible as he was not registered for the original tie.

Aaron Lescott will continue to deputise at left-back for McGivern and admitted the players are missing some self-belief.

Lescott said: "Right now we are just lacking the confidence that a few positive results would bring.

"There is no question we have the ability here but now is the time to start proving it on a consistent basis."

Lescott played in the second-half of the first tie in Lancashire, after a tactical reshuffle in the wake of McGivern's dismissal.

The 31-year-old knows success in the FA Cup could provide the platform to help Walsall's league form.

He said: "A good cup run can help the club in so many different ways, particularly as it's the FA Cup, a competition everyone wants to do well in.

"If we go into the game in the right frame of mind, we will be OK."

By Nick Mashiter