Walsall boss on Saddlers' fear factor

Walsall manager Dean Smith has urged the Saddlers to lose their fear factor after admitting their confidence had taken a battering.

Last night's 1-0 defeat to Oldham made it three defeats on the spin to hit the team's hopes of keeping pace with the early leaders.

They dropped to 15th in League One, five points off the top six, and Smith admitted his men needed to rediscover their belief.

He said: "There are some lads who are playing with a lack of confidence just because we've lost three on the spin.

"I can't question their work ethic, each one is a really honest lad who works really hard. But we lacked a bit of quality in the final third.

"I said to them 'I can't ask for any more effort, I just want a bit more quality'. I know it's in there because we've seen it already.

"What they need to do is show it on a more regular basis. We seem better set up away from home where there's a little less pressure on us.

"At the Banks's, at the moment, we end up going back to front a bit too quick for my liking."

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