Chris Hutchings calls for firepower

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has called on the Saddlers' goal-den boys to start producing the goods and blast them away from the drop zone.

The manager wants his strikers to rise to the challenge at Hartlepool tomorrow with the spectre of a relegation battle looming.

A run of five successive defeats in all competitions has left the Saddlers precariously placed in 18th in League One and they could slip into the bottom four with a defeat at Victoria Park.

But, despite their stuttering opening, Hutchings' side have only drawn a blank once - a 1-0 defeat against Colchester - in the league and have options up front.

Three-goal top scorer Reuben Reid is likely to be recalled in the absence of injured skipper Darren Byfield tomorrow and could form a three-pronged strikeforce with Jonathan Macken and Julian Gray.

And Hutchings reckons the Saddlers have the firepower to gun down their opponents.

He said: "Whether it be Darren Byfield, Julian Gray or whoever, we have creative players and when you have that you always have a chance.

"Look as the goal Macken scored against Brighton, that's the level you've got to get to. You can't have six chances and take one.

"You've got to cut those chances down to one in three, or better - because you always want it to be perfect. One in three isn't a bad ratio, but if it's one in six you have to look at it and be more clinical in the final third.

"We've had the chances to score more, but that's a criticism.

"We can say we should have stopped some goals at the other end."

The trip north is the first of an away double header which also takes the Saddlers to Leyton Orient on Tuesday.

After the trip to London, Walsall host Yeovil, Exeter and Tranmere then go to Dagenham and Redbridge in a crucial run of games which could free them from the bottom six stranglehold.

Hutchings, who is without the injured Steve Jones (ankle) and Richard Taundry (knee), admits the next few weeks are key if the Saddlers want to progress.

He said: "It's a big month. We've got two games in a week, both away from home and they are games we feel we can win.

"We went to Brighton and should have got a result and we know we're close to it."

The Saddlers boss has also praised under-fire goalkeeper Jonny Brain, with the 27-year-old still searching for his first clean sheet of the season.

Brain came under pressure after mistakes in the 3-2 defeat at Rochdale two weeks ago but Hutchings said his reaction has been spot-on.

He said: "It's swings and roundabouts. I always had faith in him and these things happen.

"Goalkeepers go through these little scenarios but it's about being mentally strong, getting out there, being with your goalkeeping coach and getting through these things.

"One good save and things are forgotten."

A clean sheet would go a long way to easing the troubles at the Banks's Stadium after a difficult start, but tomorrow's hosts have suffered a worse opening.

Hartlepool parted company with manager Chris Turner last month to leave Mick Wadsworth in caretaker charge.

They are winless at home and have conceded 13 goals in four games at Victoria Park.

But Hutchings is wary of the crisis club and their temporary boss.

He said: "I don't know if he wants the job but he'll be doing his best because if he wants it they'll need a result. He would be doing that anyway because he's employed by the football club.

"Mick has only been there a short time so all the players, since he's in charge, will be going out to impress him.

"That's what footballers do. Whoever goes in they are out to impress because it's a clean slate, everyone starts from scratch and you have to earn the right to play.

"The players will be professional about it and - whoever is in charge - they will want to get in the side and win the game."

Wadsworth is desperate to end Hartlepool's barren home run - they have not won at Victoria Park since a 3-1 win over Colchester on April 17 - after a morale-boosting point at Brentford last week.

And the manager warned the Saddlers they could be heading north at the wrong time.

He said: "Walsall are probably looking at it and thinking 'Hartlepool have a terrible home record, it's a good time to go there.'

"Perhaps it's not, perhaps it's a bad time for them as we are ready for a big win."