Smith: The future is bright for the Saddlers
Dean Smith claims staying focused on the bigger picture helps him get through the bad times at Walsall.
The manager saw his position come under increasing scrutiny from fans after three straight defeats before the Saddlers scored a crucial win against Chesterfield last weekend.
Yet Smith insists he never felt any extra pressure going into that game, as he remains convinced the long-term future is bright.
Smith said: "I was only under as much pressure as I've felt for any other game, and I can honestly say that.
"I've never got too high when we win and I've never got too low when we lose.
"Because I think the position we are in as a football club is very good.
"The results haven't been great and the position in the league table isn't good.
"But when I look at it and I've got the likes of Jordan Cook, Romaine Sawyers, Tom Bradshaw, Anthony Forde, players like that, on long-term contracts here at this football club, the future is certainly bright.
"That's one thing that you do learn, that you have to keep planning for the future."
Saturday's win moved the Saddlers up to 19th in League One but they will be eager to put further ground between them and the bottom four by recording back-to-back wins for the first time this season at Notts County this weekend.
Top scorer Bradshaw says players are concentrating on climbing the table rather than worrying about what is beneath them.
"I haven't even thought about the chance we might get relegated this year as it's just not a possibility," said the 22-year-old, who has six goals.
"I know it's been a bit of a slow start to the season but if you look at the amount of injuries we had it's always hard to pick up a lot of points when you've got a depleted squad."
