Dean Smith expects a frantic finale

Ice-cool Walsall boss Dean Smith has warned fans to be ready for a rollercoaster ride ahead of the Saddlers' Great Escape bid.

Smith is primed for a thrilling climax after they jumped out of the League One drop zone with five games to go.

A 3-2 win over Brentford last night moved them up to 20th, ahead of fourth bottom Bristol Rovers on goal difference, and the manager isn't sorry about the tension.

He said: "We know we have to win our home games and I won't apologise for having entertaining matches.

"It was a little open for me but we need to go and win games, by doing that you have to go and create chances and be more expansive than we have been over the last few weeks.

"It sounds like a few people went through the wringer more than me, I wasn't too bad on the sidelines.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, the result is the most important thing. I'll accept five 1-0s and playing poorly in all of them."

But Smith insists, ahead of Saturday's visit of already promoted Brighton, he won't get carried away.

He said: "It's one win, with five games left. We know we still need to win games if we're going to stop up.

"It's gone now, part one of the six chapters of games has started and we look forward to the second game against Brighton.

"I thought the lads looked anxious but it's understandable because they all knew the importance of the result and the next few games."

Smith also reserved praise for Jon Macken after the striker's double, the first a 30-yard screamer, made it eight goals for the season.

He added: "It was a great finish from Jon, we've seen though him do it in training and I was really pleased he got a brace.

"His hold up play was excellent."