Andy Butler backs Walsall to succeed

Walsall captain Andy Butler today warned the Saddlers haven't hit top gear and declared - 'we are the real deal.'

The defender reckons the club's young guns will improve, despite blowing another lead to draw 1-1 with Yeovil on Saturday.

The Saddlers have scored first in their first four League One games this season but have won just once.

But Butler insisted just one defeat – an unlucky 3-2 loss at Sheffield United – proves Walsall can compete.

He said: "It shows we're not a flash in the pan - we're the real deal. We're going to work for each other, the gaffer Dean Smith, Jon Whitney and Chris Nicholl.

"We will work for each other, they'll strive to improve us and I am sure we'll get better.

"We're a young team. Whits said we've got an average age of 23, so we've got players who will learn and make us a better team and better players.

"We were hard to beat when the gaffer came in last year and we've proved it again. We can look at Saturday as two points dropped but we have got to look at the bigger picture, it's another point.

"We're not the finished article but if we keep putting in performances like against Sheffield United then we'll do well this year.

"We've had some decisions go against us but we've only be beaten once."