Andy Butler's warning to fallen stars

Walsall skipper Andy Butler today warned MK Dons' fallen Premier League stars – you're in our world now.

The Saddlers captain insisted ex-top flight aces Jimmy Bullard and Alan Smith are no longer football's big-boys when they visit the Banks's Stadium tomorrow.

Ex-Fulham midfielder Bullard signed a five-month deal at stadium:mk last week after Premier League winner Smith joined in the summer on a free from Newcastle after a loan spell. But Butler reckons their past counts for nothing and they should be prepared for a Banks's battle.

He said: "All I see is a League One player, that's what they are and there's no difference from anyone else you play against.

"You go against them just like a player who had played in League One all their lives. One team can't be determined by two players – they've still got nine other League One players so they are no different to other teams.

"We got a good result at their place last year (a 1-0 win) and even at home (a 2-0 defeat) we had Jimmy Walker sent off but it was a still one-way traffic from us in the second half.

"They are one of the better passing teams in the division and there's no reason why we can't go out and pass well against them."

The 14th-placed Saddlers want to shake off the frustration of losing a 2-0 lead in the last four minutes in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Brentford.

But Butler believes they will improve as the 10 new summer signings settle.

"We've done reasonably well," said the defender. "Against Doncaster we played well, Oldham is a hard place to go and we got a point, Notts County are big-spending and we won there and we got a point against Brentford.

"Five points from 12 will do us against some of the bigger teams in the league. All in all it's been a good start.

"The gaffer has brought in some good players, everyone is bonding together and we're still young so we'll improve as we go along. Everyone has got together well.

"It's just about getting to know each other's games which are doing. Hopefully people can see that in the football we're trying to play."