Dean Smith demands tunnel vision

Walsall manager Dean Smith has demanded tunnel vision in the Saddlers' drop fight and warned – 'don't expect any favours.'

Smith's men go to Yeovil tomorrow knowing they could be out of the relegation zone or back at the bottom of League One by 5pm.

Just five points cover the bottom six in a gripping relegation battle, which will be blown wide open should the Saddlers win at Huish Park.

Swindon and Bristol Rovers are in turmoil after managerial changes and Plymouth's players haven't been paid for two months.

Oldham's financial woes could also see them dragged into the scrap if they slip into administration and are deducted 10 points.

But Smith insisted the Saddlers must save themselves and cannot rely on others imploding.

He said: "Not at all, we never have done. Right from the start I spoke to the lads and told them that. I believe in the players I've got here and they believe in the game plan we've adopted.

"Who would have thought after going into administration Plymouth would in three on the spin? You can't write anyone off, what we've got to do is focus on the games we've got coming up.

"The three winning below us on Tuesday have pulled in the two above them but I'm not looking at the league table too deeply, I'm just concentrating on our performances.

"We've got to put our results first."

The fourth-bottom Saddlers slipped back into the drop zone after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Leyton Orient – allowing Dagenham & Redbridge, who have four games in hand, to move out on goal difference.

Walsall have won 15 points from their last 10 games to stay in the survival hunt and Smith beleives they have given themselves a chance, after he took over with the team eight points from safety.

He said: "It's always good to reflect a little bit and we've looked back and if someone had offered me the position we're in now with 10 games to go I would have taken it.

"We've given ourselves a fighting chance. People will say because the three teams below us won the other night it doesn't look so rosy but they are going to win games.

"That's the way football is. Teams will play each other and they will win and lose.

"It's about what we do."