Andy Butler: Dean's a great manager

Andy Butler today labelled Walsall chief Dean Smith his best-ever boss and insisted the manager isn't under pressure.

The skipper has thrown his support behind Smith after two wins in 21 games left the Saddlers fighting another relegation battle.

They are 21st in League One after failing to live up to the pre-season promise of a promotion challenge.

And Butler insisted Smith – who saved the Saddlers from the drop on the final day of last season – deserves the players' backing.

"He's a great manager – one of the best I've worked with," he said. "I've played under Brian Laws, Nigel Adkins, Lee Clark and Ian Holloway but, from a personal point of view, the gaffer is one of the best in how he goes about things and approaches the players.

"He's a young manager and things are going to come good for him. He's going to learn his trade and he's going to learn from his mistakes. The second half of the season is a big part for us.

"We've got a good staff and they all have their input. Since Richard O'Kelly came in (as temporary coach) we haven't been beaten in normal time.

"If you look at the stats we've got the eighth-best defence in the league."

The Saddlers are a point from fifth-bottom Scunthorpe after the weekend's 1-1 draw with basement boys Chesterfield. A 90th-minute Jack Lester equaliser denied them three vital points and kept them in the relegation zone.

But Butler, who handed out presents donated by Walsall Supporters' Trust at Manor Hospital on Monday, insisted he and the squad will not consider the worst.

He said: "We're not talking about relegation – there are still 20-odd games to go. People might look at last year but we're in a much better position, that's what people have got to realise.

"We're a learning team and we're going to start learning. You are always training and you learn from your mistakes. We've got to put those mistakes right, we have a solid team and need to push on now."