Dean Smith on Walsall's resurgence

Walsall boss Dean Smith has insisted the on-fire Saddlers' survival hopes have been reignited - and are not about to be extinguished.

The manager reckons his men have hit title form after Saturday's 3-1 stroll at Carlisle moved them to within four points of safety.

They are still third from bottom but after just two defeats in his eight games Smith reckons Walsall's season burns bright.

He said: "It was a candle, but now it's a torch. Hopefully we can brighten it up even more. I said the lads are capable of winning games and I still believe that.

"What's important is our results and in the last four games we're unbeaten. It's worked out at an average of two points every game and that's championship form. If you get two points each game all season you win the league.

"That's the target we've had to achieve."

Julian Gray's double and Matt Gill's opener left the Saddlers in dreamland at Brunton Park before Peter Murphy headed an injury-time consolation for United.

It lifted them off the bottom of the table - above Dagenham & Redbridge and Bristol Rovers - and Smith believes his charges have rediscovered their belief.

He said: "I think the players are proving themselves. They've taken a lot of hits this season because of the position they were in but they are starting to perform and are looking like very good players again.

"Long may that continue."

But the manager, who can make more loan signings with the window reopening today, warned against complacency and insisted their only target for the rest of the season is staying up.

He said: "Winning breeds confidence. Confidence breeds better players and they perform better so it's all boding well but we are still in the bottom four.

"Our target is fifth bottom and we want to be there or above by the last game of the season. We know we are still in the bottom four and it's still going to be hard work for us.

"We'll take the plaudits for the win on Saturday but we've got to keep it going."