Dean Smith calls for Walsall heroes

Walsall manager Dean Smith has declared any of his fighters can become heroes and insisted he has a squad of match-winners.

The Saddlers host title-chasing Brighton tomorrow hoping to derail the Seagulls' Championship party.

The visitors will win League One with victory at the Banks's Stadium while three points could move the Saddlers, who are out of the drop zone on goal difference, clear of the bottom four.

And Smith believes any of his men can be the one who fires the Saddlers to safety.

He said: "It's an opportunity for all of them. I've said that from the start. It's a squad of players and they'll all be needed because people go through times of not playing well as they can't keep the consistency level up. They have to be ready should the chance arise.

"They have shown that so far, the pleasing thing for me was we bounced back from a disappointing defeat at Plymouth by beating Brentford on Tuesday.

"You look at Jon Macken's goal which was the catalyst for us and it was a great finish.

"Jon deserved the plaudits for his performance but there's another five games now and there's a chance for other people to stand up and be counted."

Brighton are expected to bring around 1,500 and boost the crowd at the Banks's Stadium which dipped to just 3,154 in midweek.

But Smith expects the Saddlers supporters – and their rivals – to create a big match atmosphere for the last three home games for his men to thrive in.

He said: "I'm sure our fans will be out in force. This game and the Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton games are against big clubs with big support and that will make for a good atmosphere.

"My lads will revel in that. It's a natural reaction, if there's a good atmosphere you'll get a little more out of the players.

"It's the adrenaline, they get pumped up a little more and the atmosphere carries them through."