Dean Smith has given Walsall hope

Walsall blogger Mark Jones has seen the first genuine rays of light in the Saddlers' season since Dean Smith took over as manager last month.

Not so long ago, I would have regarded next Saturday's home game with Bournemouth as just another fixture to chalk off in the countdown to the merciful release that the end of season 2010/11 would bring, with the following Tuesday's clash with Dagenham and Redbridge being merely a dour Wooden Spoon decider.

Now - and I'm writing this in hushed tones in a darkened room while no-ones about - I am actually looking forward to the games.

For the first time in ages, probably since Richard Money was in charge, I'm thinking about forthcoming matches, looking at fixture lists and league tables and checking midweek news stories for injury doubts.

The fact that these next fixtures - along with upcoming trips down the M5 to Swindon, Yeovil and Plymouth - actually matter is testament to what manager Dean Smith has achieved in such a short space of time.

A bit of passion and some pride in the shirt goes a long way. Along with a bit of organisation, tactics that you can actually fathom out and goals. Plenty of goals.

So many in fact that in eight games under Smith we have doubled the meagre tally 'achieved' under previous boss Chris Hutchings.

Selecting the right players for the right jobs is not a bad idea either. Although most of us would probably regard this is a pretty obvious thing to do, to our previous manager - and some of his predecessors too - it seemed like some weird abstract concept.

Of course, the massive improvement that Deano has brought about in such a short space of time brings with it new problems.

Where previously it was a case of playing as if there was nothing to lose, now we are actually within shouting distance of 20th place and there is a bit of pressure back on the players.

But that's no bad thing, so while we've been given this second chance I'm going to sit back and try to enjoy the relegation battle - well maybe not enjoy but tolerate and endure it.

It's very much on.