Walsall boss Dean Smith hails players fight after Saddlers' FA Cup win

Walsall manager Dean Smith believes his players were "prepared to fight for their shirt" after the Saddlers went through to the second round of the FA Cup.

A 3-2 extra-time win over Exeter at the Banks's Stadium last night was just the Saddlers' second victory in 16 games, after a run which has seen them slip into the League One relegation zone.

And Smith was pleased with his players' fight after threatening them with the axe following Saturday's 4-2 defeat at home to Bury.

He said: "We had the lads in on Sunday and I said to them it's their careers and they've got to work hard to maintain and prolong them.

"I said I was looking to bring players in and they had last night, because we couldn't bring anyone in for the cup, to keep their shirts.

"It's massively important they do that and there were plenty out there who showed they were prepared to fight for their shirt."

George Bowerman's 98th-minute winner settled the tie and the 20-year-old earned praise from captain Andy Butler, after his second senior goal in only his fourth game.

Butler said: "We train with George every day and you can see he is one of the best finishers at the club. He always hits the target and he's proved it in the last two games.

"He's worked hard, does a lot of work in the gym, a lot of finishing with Chris Nicholl and he deserves everything he gets."