Big guns no sweat for Hutchings

He said: "I think we can compete at this level, in the top half of the table. There is no reason why we can't come here another time and win the game.

"We will play teams that are all above us, just outside or in the play-off areas, so it is a good marker for us for the rest of the season and going into next season.

"We know how far we have come and how far we need to go."

But the Saddlers boss was unhappy with the way his side defended, especially after their impressive first-half showing.

Jason Price had opened the scoring after 19 minutes but Jabo Ibehre's eighth goal of the season drew them level 10 minutes later, before Gary Alexander prodded in on the stroke of half-time.

The striker netted again after 54 minutes to compound the Saddlers' woes and leave them 13th in the table.

He said: "I thought in the first half we played really well, as good as we have played for weeks.

"We passed the ball and I thought we were unfortunate to go into the break behind. But we haven't defended set plays all afternoon and we conceded from three set plays.

"If you don't defend them properly then you concede goals and we are disappointed.

"We work on them but on certain days it doesn't come off and Saturday was one of those days.

"The longer the game went on they were quite happy playing a bit of keep-ball and we had to go and chase it a bit. It's frustrating because I thought first half it was even-stevens."

The Saddlers were rocked by an injury to Manny Smith, after the defender was knocked unconscious in an accidental collision with Lions goalkeeper David Forde.

The 20-year-old was clobbered in the 69th minute, by which time the visitors were already 3-1 behind.

Smith's injury knocked the Saddlers off their stride and Hutchings praised the medical staff for the treatment the defender received.

He said: "He was knocked out cold. When you're knocked out you don't know if it's a back or neck injury so you have to take every precaution. It was very worrying."

Hutchings will be hoping the defender makes a swift recovery after fresh injuries deprived him of Sofiene Zaaboub (thigh) and Mark Bradley (back spasm).

Goalkeeper Clayton Ince was absent due to a family bereavement.

Michael Ricketts returned after his five-match ban to replace Smith but it was strike partner Ibehre who earned praise from the boss.

He said: "I was very pleased for him. He worked very hard and I thought he did well. He was a handful all afternoon and that is how he has to play week in and week out. He knows that.

"Hopefully the goal will do his confidence the world of good."

He said: "He was knocked out cold. When you're knocked out you don't know if it's a back or neck injury so you have to take every precaution. It was very worrying."