Fear factor gone for Richard Taundry

Richard Taundry has declared Walsall have banished the fear factor at the Banks's Stadium.

The 22-year-old admitted the Saddlers were running scared at home before manager Dean Smith breathed new life into their survival hopes.

They host Leyton Orient tonight bidding to move six points clear of the League One drop zone, after a crucial point at Swindon on Saturday.

The Saddlers suffered a Banks's nightmare before Smith's revolution – winning just four of 14 games – but have now kept three consecutive clean sheets.

And Taundry revealed the players weren't enjoying life at WS1 until their recent revival.

He said: "There could have been a bit of fear because we were trying so hard to impress at the time.

"We weren't performing well. We accept it and it's up to us to make it right. We shouldn't have let it go this far and now we're trying to make amends.

"It was a bit weird playing at home when we were trying so hard. We were trying things which just weren't going for us.

"We have a lot more freedom now, people will look at the recent games and say 'a few months ago they would have lost that', there's a lot more belief."

Boss Smith has insisted Walsall's League One future will be decided at the Banks's and he has won 11 points out of 21 at home.

Bournemouth and Huddersfield are the only teams to have escaped with victory since January and Taundry reckons it proves Smith's appointment was the right call.

The midfielder said: "He's said to us it's where our season will be decided. It was a massive result against Southampton and hopefully we can build on it.

"A change just gives you that spark, he has come in, has a different mentality, a different spark, and all the lads have reacted. It's been a big lift.

"During the period we were going through, things weren't going for us and we weren't performing.

"Results show it was the right time to bring someone in and it's worked well."

Orient arrive at the Banks's with just two defeats in 24 games but Taundry insisted the Saddlers, with only two losses in 10, can win.

He said: "They are flying but it's down to us to break it and bring back the points."