Walsall boss can't wait to take on Jose

Walsall boss Dean Smith admits his side's Capital One Cup draw with Chelsea has got him excited.

But the Saddlers boss insists celebrations from the win against Brighton and the subsequent third round draw are now over.

Walsall head to Blackpool's Bloomfield Road on Saturday, looking to continue their unbeaten start to the new campaign.

And Smith feels it's important his side now puts the exhilaration of being drawn at home to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea to one side.

He said: "Chelsea is a fantastic draw for us, it's the champions of England coming to the Banks's Stadium.

"They will bring a team packed with internationals, so it's going to be a wonderful test for the players.

"It's also going to be great for me, personally, going up against Jose Mourinho. But there is a lot of work to do before then.

"We have had a good start to the new season and we need to keep our feet firmly on the ground. The league is the priority, there are plenty of games before Chelsea."

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Smith believes last season's exploits of reaching the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy will help his team deal with the distraction.

He said: "I will make sure it doesn't become a distraction. But the players are so determined and have learnt an awful lot over the past couple of seasons.

"We had the distraction of Wembley last season, so we know what it is like to have a big occasion around the corner. Chelsea is going to be incredibly exciting.

"There is going to be a huge clamour for tickets and I'm sure the Banks's Stadium will be packed. But we have to focus on Blackpool and take things game-by-game. It's long-term success we want."

Meanwhile, Walsall will miss out on a further cash windfall after it was confirmed the Chelsea game will not be shown live on television.

Sky Sports have instead opted to air Aston Villa's clash with Birmingham and Arsenal's visit to take on rivals Tottenham.

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