Chris Marsh: Fans sense Walsall blood - Jon Whitney needs three wins

But Jon Whitney knows he is going to need a really positive run of results to get Walsall’s fans back on side.

A draw at MK Dons is a start. But he has now got a run of three winnable games in Doncaster, Southend and Newport County in the FA Cup.

And I think if he is going to stand any chance of turning the fans around he has to win all three.

It feels now like Saddlers fans are a pack of bloodhounds.

They are not only snapping at their manager’s heels – they are at the stage where they can sense blood.

We saw that on Saturday, following the 1-1 draw with Blackpool.

There is no reason why a draw at home, which extended Walsall’s unbeaten run at the Banks’s Stadium, should result in boos and calls for the manager to go.

But there is a large and significant section of supporters now that want to see Jon moved on. And I can understand their frustrations.

Okay, Walsall were hugely unfortunate to see Jon Guthrie’s goal disallowed against Gary Bowyer’s men on Saturday.

It was a perfectly good goal and the fact the referee refused to tell Jon why it was ruled out shows he knows he made a mistake.

I think the official may have been evening things out because Erhun Oztumer’s free-kick – however brilliant – was never a foul in the first place.

Referees definitely do that – whether it’s subconscious or otherwise. But the truth is, over the 90 minutes, Blackpool deserved to come away with at least a point.

Another thing that didn’t help Whitney’s cause was his decision not to start to Tyler Roberts against the Tangerines.

It seems he doesn’t want to partner Roberts and Daniel Agyei up front together.

The reason why – although I’m not certain – might be because they are both on loan.

They are two young strikers who are full of potential but both could return to their parent clubs in January.

And in Ama Bakayoko, Whitney has his own promising forward who he is trying to look after.

The frustration towards Whitney spilled into criticism for Bakayoko on Saturday with fans calling for him to be replaced by Roberts.

I know what it’s like to be on the end of that stick. There was a time Walsall fans used to absolutely batter me. They gave it to me both barrels.

And it did get to me when it was personal. When it was against the team, it was constructive and I didn’t mind because it’s a team game.

But if my mum and dad were in the crowd, and the stick was aimed at me – it would affect me.

I have always said being booed is not a reflection of your ability. A lot of it is down to circumstance.

On Saturday, the fans could see Roberts on the bench and that’s not to say they don’t rate Bakayoko. But we can all see Roberts has to be starting.

I was delighted that Bakayoko played a lot better against MK Dons on Tuesday. I think that shows real character from the lad.

He’s a really bright prospect and from what I’ve heard there are other clubs looking at him.

But if he’s not having a good game and Agyei or Roberts is on the bench – he has to come off for his own good.

It’s great that Whitney is trying to develop him but if he’s getting stick pull him out because it won’t do him any good.

It’s decisions like this Jon is now being judged on.

Fans are watching his every move at every game.

And he has got to get it right over the next few matches.

He has to play his best side, with the right system or the chants for him to go with increase even further.

It’s a shame because he has been a great servant for the club. But there is no doubt he is now under an awful lot of pressure.