Chris Hutchings hails Walsall's spirit

Manager Chris Hutchings has hailed Walsall's fighting spirit after their morale-boosting win over Carlisle.

The Saddlers' 2-1 victory over the Cumbrians on Saturday was only their fourth in League One this season, but closed the gap to safety to five points.

They remain rock bottom, a point behind fellow strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge, but the weekend's haul was crucial to their survival hopes.

Hutchings said: "We're at the bottom and fighting for our lives, we changed it around a little bit and whether that had something to do with it who knows but we're delighted.

"I'm very pleased with the performance and result, especially after going a goal down.

"We showed great character and resilience with some good play."

Matt Richards was the Saddlers' two-goal hero and debutant defender Andy Butler was outstanding but Hutchings insisted the whole team deserved the plaudits.

He said: "It was a team performance, we don't want to pick anyone out.

"There were some very good performances, Andy has got excellent experience and knows how to play. He kept us on a decent line and I was pleased for Oliver Lancashire too.

"They were excellent."

But Hutchings admitted to being nervous, as Carlisle piled forward in search of a late equaliser.

He said: "We've to be a little bit sharper. It's always nervy, they threw caution to the wind and it's always harem-scarum They are a good side and put us under pressure.

"They got it forward quickly at the death and when you're chasing the game that's what you end up doing."

Richards' second-half winner came straight off the training ground and Hutchings was pleased their hard work at Essington finally paid off.

He said: "We've been working on the training ground and it was about time, especially with the second one, it came off.

"The first one was a fantastic free kick – there's no goalkeeper who was going to stop it – and we could have even sneaked another one."