There's still a long way to go warns Walsall boss Chris Hutchings

Dec 4 2009 by Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail

“GOING along nicely but not getting carried away” – that is Chris Hutchings’ summary of Walsall’s progress up to the brink of the top six.

The Saddlers face Southampton tomorrow unbeaten in six league games and, lying seventh in League One, emerging as surprise play-off contenders.

But no-one in the dressing room is getting giddy about the situation, insists the manager.

“We are going along nicely but there is a long way to go,” Hutchings said. “If we lose the next three games things change pretty radically.

“We can arguably say we are punching above our weight. If you look at the top ten clubs they are better equipped to be high up the league than we are. But we are not getting carried away.

“We have done OK in the last few weeks but will keep our feet firmly on the ground. We are there to be shot at. People want to beat us because they know we are on a good run.”

Southampton will arrive at the Banks’s Stadium in confident mood after three successive wins.

“Alan Pardew has got them going,” said Hutchings. “They have some good, experienced players like Ricky Lambert and David Connelly, who I had at Wigan and know very well.

“They have players who have played in the top flight and they had a big fillip in the week when they won to climb out of the bottom four for the first time since their points deduction.

“But we are on a good run and coming off the back of a good all-round battling performance at Yeovil.”