Dean Smith orders his players to rest

Walsall manager Dean Smith has ordered his players to rest after blaming fatigue for their poor display at Yeovil.

The Saddlers escaped from Huish Park with a point from a 1-1 draw but Smith admitted his side's performance was "not acceptable."

And Smith looks set to ease down the training schedule this week and is looking to recharge his players ahead of Saturday's crucial clash with Hartlepool at the Banks's Stadium.

He said: "We have played much better than that but there are some players who have played a lot of games over a short period of time. They look 'leggy' at the moment and it's time to recharge the batteries.

"I am hoping it is a physical thing because players who have done really well over recent weeks put in poor performances. They looked tired and it's time to just rest.

"As I keep saying every week, the Banks's Stadium is where we're going to need to pick up points if we're going to stay up and Yeovil will see Saturday as two points dropped.

"Hartlepool is the next game on Saturday and we need to get the fans behind us and get the lads recharged this week and have a good go to try to get three points.

"That would take the pressure off for the Milton Keynes Dons game and we will have a nice two-week break then."

The Saddlers boss believes captain Darren Byfield could be pushing hard for a start on Saturday, after stepping up his comeback from knee problems with another outing as a substitute at Yeovil.

But Oliver Lancashire's fitness will be assessed during the week after cramps in the calf muscles forced him off at half-time.

The manager said: "Darren is very close now. He's not far away at all. He played a full 90 minutes last week in a behind-closed-doors friendly and he is very close to pushing for the starting line-up now.

"We are down to single-figures now for games remaining so we're in the home straight. Olly was feeling his calves. He had a bit of cramp. He has been struggling throughout the first half.

"I asked him how he was and he said he was struggling, so I knew I needed to make the change."