Andy Butler is aiming to keep boss in his job

Andy Butler today admitted Walsall had to improve to protect boss Dean Smith and win back the fans' faith.

The Saddlers skipper insisted he understood supporters' frustrations after another season fighting the League One drop but believes the "gloom and doom" has lifted.

Walsall have pulled three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's trip to Yeovil after a six-game unbeaten run and Butler said the Saddlers had to repay boss Smith's belief.

He said: "The fans want to see us win games and that's what we're here to do so we have something to prove – but it's to the manager really. That's the main thing because his football career is at stake.

"Confidence has never been an issue because the manager is very good at keeping everyone's heads up. He's never changed even when we were in the bottom four. He tells the players what he believes about them and the players are now returning the favour to him and proving they are good players."

And defender Butler, who is favourite to retain his Player of the Year crown, reckons the squad have reignited fans' belief about League One survival.

"At the start of the season we thought we could get higher but little bits and bobs have gone against us," he said with Walsall 20th. "It (struggling) is getting a bit too frequent but as players we have to act professionally. If we're down there we have to go and improve ourselves. Hopefully fans can see now we can play football.

"A little bit of the gloom and doom has lifted. The fans have responded to us playing well and we've responded to them cheering us. It works both ways. If they get behind us again it'll carry on."

The Saddlers face back-to-back away games at Yeovil on Saturday and Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday in a crunch double header and Butler is relaxed about their survival chances with 11 games left.

He added: "I feel confident, as a player you have to be bold and back yourself to get out of it. It might be tight in the bottom four but hopefully we won't be there.

"We want to keep going for as long as we can and get a respectable position."