Dean Smith admits Walsall were under par

Manager Dean Smith admitted Walsall weren't at their best despite securing a 2-0 victory at home to Fleetwood in the FA Cup.

A first-half George Evans goal and a stoppage time Anthony Forde strike were enough to see the Saddlers into the second round.

But Smith was disappointed with his side's performance in front of a crowd of just 2,532 fans at the Banks's Stadium.

He said: "It wasn't our best performance of the season – not at all – but there were moments of really good play, especially in the first-half.

"I thought we were the more dominant team first half and had a couple of opportunities where we could have gone more than one goal up which would have really killed the game off.

"I had a couple of enforced changes at half-time which may be disrupted us a little bit and for the last 20 minutes they were the main aggressors.

"We had to defend manfully and make sure we kept a clean sheet which we did.

"The performance was average but we scored two really good goals. It's a good habit winning when you are okay but we need to be much better."

Smith was forced to withdraw goalkeeper Neil Etheridge with a thigh strain and winger Milan Lalkovic with a calf problem at the break.

There was also no place in the match-day squad for influential centre-back James O'Connor, who was replaced by Matt Preston.

Smith said: "Etheridge was feeling his thigh and he flies out with the Philippines tomorrow. Milan was feeling his calf as well.

"You don't want to risk things. I know we have a break next week but there is no point in risking things.

"James felt his calf on Thursday afternoon in training. He was another one we didn't want to risk.

"They are just niggles, it's that time of the year when we have played 20 games and the pitches are just starting to get a little bit heavier with the rain."