Adam Chambers: Walsall players back Jon Whitney

The Saddlers’ disappointing season hit a new low on Saturday as Whitney’s men crashed out of the FA Cup at League Two Newport County.

It is the second time in two years Walsall have exited the world’s oldest Cup competition in the first round – with non-league Macclesfield running out 1-0 winners at the Banks’s Stadium last season.

Whitney was already under pressure from supporters heading to South Wales but the defeat led to angry calls for him to be moved on.

Chambers, though, says the entire squad are behind their boss and has vowed the team will turn their fortunes around.

“All the lads are playing for the manager,” the skipper declared. “I have got a lot of respect for him. He has done an awful lot for me in my time at the club.

“We are all pulling in the same direction and all trying to do our best for him and the club.

“The lads are the same as me. We want to do well for ourselves and for him as well. We are all behind him, most definitely. It is disappointing when things don’t go our way but we are working hard to put things right and we will.”

Goals from Frank Nouble and Shawn McCoulsky ensured it was the Exiles who made it into the draw for the second round – with Ama Bakayoko netting a consolation for the Saddlers.

McCoulsky’s goal arrived less than 30 seconds after the second half had got under way – with Chambers admitting Walsall needed to be better in Wales.

“It is very disappointing to go out of the FA Cup in the first round,” he said. “We played OK at times. We’ve conceded an unlucky goal in the first half which didn’t help. And then a sloppy bit of play from ourselves at the start of the second half has given us a lot to do.

“The lads stayed positive out there and tried to get on the front foot. But it wasn’t to be.”