Chris Hutchings vows to fight on

Under-fire boss Chris Hutchings has vowed to fight on - despite Walsall's season spiralling out of control.

They crashed out of the FA Cup after a woeful 1-0 defeat at League Two Torquay on Saturday - just 24 hours after the board issued a vote of confidence in their manager.

The Saddlers have won just three times in their last 19 games to leave them out of every cup competition and bottom of League One.

But chief executive Stefan Gamble backed Hutchings on Friday and the boss is remaining calm.

When asked about his future, he said: "Well you're going on about the board, but if that's what they've said then I don't know.

"Let's just get on with our jobs. It's as simple as that."

Hutchings' problems deepened when he confirmed Reuben Reid and Jon Macken are out for up to three weeks.

Reid is out with a grade one tear in his hamstring, while Macken has suffered a reccurrence of a calf problem.

Captain Darren Byfield is already out with a long-term knee injury and Liam Dickinson's loan from Barnsley ends against Oldham this weekend.

And Hutchings admitted he will have to act quickly if he wants to extend Dickinson's deal.

He said: "Reuben and Jon will be out for two to three weeks. We're going to have to have a little think about Liam's loan now.

"We've been thinking about it anyway, but obviously it might make our minds up a little bit more now, because if the injuries are two or three weeks then we're going to be short of numbers in that area.

"We'll go away and sort it out today or Tuesday."

Billy Kee's first-half penalty settled a tie which left the Saddlers free to focus on League One survival.

They are seven points adrift of safety and Hutchings once again called on his men to start taking responsibility.

He said: "The players have got to stand up and be counted as well.

"It's a bad result and that's what we're here for - to get results and win football games."