Walsall midfielder Isaac Hutchinson is expecting a tricky test from Brighton and Hove Albion’s Under 21s this evening.
The Saddlers will kick-off their EFL Trophy campaign against the Seagulls in Southern Group A at the Poundland Bescot Stadium tonight (7pm).
Hutchinson, who spent eight years in Brighton’s youth set up, insists the team will need to be at their best and is hoping to get back on track with a victory after Saturday’s frustrating draw at Crewe Alexandra.
“I think any win early on in the season is a good one so it’s one we’ll be taking seriously,” Hutchinson said.
“They’re not going to be an easy game, that level is a good level. They’re a big club now with good players and they will come to show what they can do and show they can compete at this level so it’s one we won’t take lightly and hopefully it will be a good one.”
The Saddlers surrendered a 2-0 lead last time out against Crewe but put in an impressive performance, particularly in the first half.
Hutchinson admitted the team need to sharpen up when leading in games and improve on the back of Saturday’s setback.
“We’ve just got to learn from it,” he commented.
“It’s four games in at the end of the day which is the positive as well because we’ve got a long season ahead of us. If we learn from it quickly and we play like that, along those lines, we’re going to have no problems doing well so learning from it quickly, ironing out those little things and we’ll be okay.
“It happened a few times last season as well so it’s not something that’s new so we need to find a way when we’re ahead in games of either seeing it out with how we’re playing or being out of sight where teams can’t come back and that’s something as a team, we need to figure out together and I’m sure we will.”
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