Hutchings is likely to stick with Gilmartin at Leyton Orient on Saturday

Walsall boss Chris Hutchings has a difficult choice to make between keepers Clayton Ince and Rene Gilmartin at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Irish youngster Gilmartin cost his team a vital goal in last weekend's 2-2 draw at home to Millwall.

"All players want a sustained run, and when you show belief in people it gives them confidence, but everybody makes mistakes," Hutchings told BBC WM.

It was only his second game after taking over from Ince as first choice.

Hutchings added: "It remains to be seen if Rene plays on Saturday, but we've got good competition for places."

These things happen and keepers have to learn from them Chris Hutchings on recent goalkeeping errors

Gilmartin, 22, had a longer run in the team early in the season before suffering a hamstring injury, only regaining his place after some high-profile errors from Ince.

But a miscommunication between the Dublin-born keeper and defender Jamie Vincent handed Millwall a route back into last weekend's game when the Saddlers were leading 2-0.

"If you saw that in a Sunday League game you'd be bitterly disappointed," Hutchings noted.

"But you'd have said the same with Clayton at Wycombe when they scored a free-kick, the same at Leeds. These things happen and keepers have to learn from them."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version