Reuben Reid ignoring boss doubt

Walsall striker Reuben Reid has insisted the club's players will ignore the uncertainty over manager Chris Hutchings' future and stay focused.

The Albion loanee scored twice as the Saddlers sunk Fleetwood 2-0 in their FA Cup first round replay last night.

But fans laid into the team and Hutchings despite the side winning for only the second time in 16 games.

They chanted against the manager and made their feelings clear to the board and chairman Jeff Bonser.

A defeat could have ended Hutchings' reign but Reid insisted the players cannot worry about the manager's job security.

He said: "I'm just a player - there are other people who make those decisions.

"We're professional footballers so you have to focus. When you go across the line you have to focus on your own performance.

"Everywhere I go on the pitch I concentrate on my performance. Sometimes things will go for us and sometimes they won't.

"Last night it went for us, so that's what I am happy with."

But the 22-year-old conceded some of his team-mates might have been affected by the tense atmosphere at the Banks's Stadium.

He said: "If you start taking into account the situation and the fans, it's going to affect your game.

"Different players react to situations differently, I just want to do my best. It was just another game for me.

"I was focused on my performance, to give my best for the team and to get the best result."

Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker's heroics allowed Reid to win it but, despite two difficult games against the non-league outfit, the striker insisted the Saddlers still don't feel lucky to be in the cup.

He said: "Definitely not, it's a game of football. They had their chances and didn't take them and we took ours. We won 2-0, so we win.

"It's important to win every game, it's not a hidden fact we're not on the best of runs but a positive result may help us turn the corner."