Dean Smith hails Walsall's backline

Walsall manager Dean Smith has hailed the Saddlers' new-found defensive solidity but insisted it won't harm their attacking instincts.

Smith's men are hunting a fourth consecutive clean sheet – for the first time since 2006 – when they host Leyton Orient tonight.

They have kept three successive shutouts at the Banks's Stadium and haven't been breached in 308 minutes at home – since Michael Symes handed Bournemouth a 1-0 win last month.

It marks a stunning turnaround by a team who had kept just three clean sheets all season before Smith's arrival.

The Saddlers boss is sweating on Aaron Lescott's fitness, after the right-back limped off at Swindon with a knee problem on Saturday, but has praised his backline's resilience.

He said: "We've proven over the last few games we're hard to beat and resolute and we've had three clean sheets at home.

"We're going out to win games, the defensive side is important and if we keep clean sheets I believe we'll create chances and score goals. We've worked on the defence and the results have shown that.

"Certainly they'll be an onus on us, as a team, to keep a clean sheet but also keep that attacking threat."

The influence of former centre-back Smith and backroom team Jon Whitney and Chris Nicholl – both ex-defenders – is key and the manager insists they share the same beliefs.

He said: "We've all got the same philosophy in terms of trying to win games but Chris would rather see more clean sheets than me.

"I would rather see a 4-3 every now and again for the entertainment value, Chris would rather see a 1-0. That's not saying I don't like 1-0 but I like to see goals as well.

"Clean sheets are important for the defenders though, I've been a defender all my career and you took a certain amount of pride when you kept a clean sheet.

"I know they'll be doing that, especially goalkeeper Jimmy Walker as well."