Walsall boss swats up on opponents

Walsall manager Dean Smith is back on the road to scout weekend opponents on a critical night of League One action for the Saddlers.

Smith, fresh from a weekend trip to Scotland which gave him the opportunity to check out potential summer recruits, will clock up yet more miles by scouting weekend opponents Plymouth Argyle at Leyton Orient.

It's one of a series of fixtures which will have Saddlers fans glued to the bulletins although Smith, having moved from caretaker to confirmed Walsall boss with a two-year deal at the weekend, insists he will be taking a detached view of proceedings.

He said: "I'm quite relaxed about it all. Results will be what they will be and there's nothing I can do to influence them. It's our own results and performances which have my full attention.

"I won't be watching the Plymouth game cheering on Leyton Orient. I will be too bust concentrating on what we will be facing on Saturday."

But, even though their team will not be kicking a ball, supporters will be hooked on the scorelines from across the division and their impact on Walsall's survival fight.

One point ahead, Dagenham & Redbridge use up their game in hand at home to Peterborough, Bristol Rovers have the chance to go above Saddlers at home to Bournemouth, while the fortunes of a post-Paul Ince Notts County, who entertain Rochdale, and Tranmere at a sliding Sheffield Wednesday will also have a bearing on the Walsall outlook.

Smith, however, won't be getting caught up in the dramas.

He said: "I had the chance to go to Scotland at the weekend and watch some football up there and of course I can now think about what lies ahead.

"But as pleased as I am about signing the contract, I don't want it to distract from how hard we have to keep working to try to achieve our goal.

"That's all the focus is on right now. "

Crisis-hit Plymouth are waging their own battles and present another match of huge importance to Walsall this weekend, but the good news for Smith is that he looks likely to have a full complement of players.

Jon Macken was expected to be back in training today, while Aaron Lescott should also be fit to rejoin the squad by Thursday.