Walsall captain Andy Butler backs Saddlers to cope with FA Cup exit

Walsall captain Andy Butler today insisted the Saddlers can cope after a double injury blow in their FA Cup exit.

Oliver Lancashire and Manny Smith were both crocked to compound their woes after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Dagenham on penalties last night.

Smith was stretchered off after being left unconscious by a kick to the head while Lancashire – who turned 23 yesterday – limped off with a hamstring problem.

The duo are now doubts for Saturday's crunch trip to Chesterfield but Butler – who has just recovered from a cyst behind the hamstring – refused to panic.

He said: "There's no extra pressure. We'll see how they are today and tomorrow and I can do a job whatever.

"We have players who can come in too, so there's no more pressure than usual. I think Manny is OK now so we'll have to wait and see.

"He got kicked in the mouth and I thought it was a penalty. He was knocked clean out and was on the floor, but it's one of those things."

The Saddlers have failed to beat the Daggers – bottom of the Football League – twice after last night's second-round replay and their initial 1-1 draw.

But Butler wants them to forget about the goalless draw, which led to them losing 3-2 on penalties, and focus on the weekend's League One relegation clash with the Spirerites.

The 28-year-old centre-back said: "Everyone's a bit down and we're out of the Cup, but we weren't going to win it so we will roll onto the league.

"We have to pick ourselves up. It's the league which is our bread and butter and we have to look at that.

"There's no point dwelling on it. Things went against us but it's one of those things – it's the FA Cup.

"No-one knows why we didn't perform, form goes out of the window and they've beaten us on penalties."