Home form must turn for Dean Smith
Wednesday 26th January 2011, 11:25AM GMT.
Walsall manager Dean Smith has admitted the Saddlers’ League One future hinges on transforming their wretched home form.
They drew 1-1 with Oldham last night to stay rooted to the bottom of League One, nine points from safety.
The draw ensured they didn’t lose any ground on their relegation rivals but the Saddlers have won just three times at the Banks’s Stadium in the league this term.
And Smith knows that must change if they stand a chance of escaping the bottom four.
He said: “For me, home form is key. If we can win our home games and pick up points on the road we’ve got a chance of survival.
“If we stay in this league the decision will be made at our football ground. Our record hasn’t been great and we need to get more points at home.
“That will decide whether we stay up or not. If we keep putting in performances it will turn.
“We’ll follow it up with another home match with Bristol Rovers on Saturday and if we take four points from two games it will be a good return.”
The Saddlers, who have lost eight at the Banks’s this term, were backed by a crowd of just 3,247 – the second lowest league attendance of the season.
But Smith appreciated their support and felt they recognised the hosts deserved to win.
He said: “I can only comment on the two games I’ve had here but I’ve had fantastic backing from the supporters. They will play a part in it as well.
“They will have left disappointed we didn’t get three points like the lads are.”
Darryl Westlake’s first senior goal cancelled out Filipe Morais’ opener and Smith praised his charges for their commitment.
He said: “I can’t question the lads’ effort and they are giving me everything. We’ve come somewhere when we’re walking off the pitch disappointed we haven’t got the win.
“It’s a point towards our total, but I’m disappointed and the players are disappointed we didn’t come away with three points.
“We had chances before they took the lead and it’s been a bit of an Achilles heel for us – not taking our chances when we are on top.”
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
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we will not move off the bottom untill new blood is bought in.mr bonser has got to do something to inject a little bit of cash to get some half decent players.not any more loans as they have no pride they only come to play a few games then go back to there club,not bothered if the club stay up or go down.so come on mr bonser show the fans you are interested in keeping us in divs one.
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‘Only’ 3247???
I’m amazed it was that high, I predicted a sub 2500 gate pre-match.
There was a lower crowd for that dire performance against Yeovil last season and that was a week after we won at Leeds.
The crowds are a reflection of years of neglect, its not Deano’s fault or the current players.
Time to go Jeffrey.
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I now hundreds of Walsall fans who will never go to the Bankss while Bonser runs the club..
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I too was surprised how high the attendance was on Tuesday. I was expecting less than 3,000. Stefan Gamble says money is available for new players. Where are they? We need strikers who know where the back of the net is and defenders who are not too polite to tackle. Will anyone new be in place by Saturday? No reflection on Deano but it’s the wrong appointment at the wrong time (again!). We needed someone with extensive knowledge of the lower leagues and with good contacts to wheel and deal for the benefit of the club.
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