Walsall players are in fear of the axe

Walsall midfielder Richard Taundry today revealed the Saddlers' flops are living in fear of the axe from boss Dean Smith.

The manager threatened his players with the chop after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe stretched their winless run to four games.

Smith blasted their display as "awful" despite making four changes, after three straight defeats left the 16th-placed Saddlers off the pace in League One.

And Taundry admitted the players now face being left out in the cold unless they improve.

He said: "Everyone knows there's someone breathing down their neck and everyone's got to watch out now.

"We know we haven't been putting in the performances in this season, so it's time everyone starts looking over their shoulder and realise they have to knuckle down.

"The boss can bring anyone in and he's told us that too, he's said he wants us to play for the shirts and that's what we need to do."