Dean Smith fumes that Saddlers have no defence for FA Cup KO

Walsall boss Dean Smith today admitted the Saddlers have no excuse for their FA Cup KO against Dagenham.

Smith's men crashed out of the second round 3-2 on penalties after a wretched goalless draw against the Football League's bottom club.

Alex Nicholls, Claude Gnakpa and Lee Beevers all missed in the shoot-out at the Banks's Stadium last night and Smith insisted the Saddlers have no defence.

He said: "We can't make excuses and we've been beaten on penalties. It was a poor performance, no doubt about it, and it was a dire game. The pitch didn't help the passing but it was a poor performance.

"We can all talk about Dagenham's league form of nine defeats in a row and our league form but the FA Cup is different. Form goes out the window and that's why you see so many surprises and upsets in the competition.

"We never underestimated Dagenham and they made it hard for us but we never came to terms with it."

But the Saddlers boss was adamant Walsall should have been awarded a second-half penalty after Manny Smith was knocked out by a high foot.

The defender – who was also left unconscious in a 3-1 defeat at Millwall in 2009 – needed seven minutes of treatment after losing some teeth.

Smith added: "We should have had a penalty when Manny got all his teeth smashed out of his face. The lad tries an overhead kick when Manny tries to head the ball.

"Anywhere else on the pitch it's a free-kick so it should be a penalty. We saw Blackburn get a penalty for that a few weeks ago."

Smith is now a doubt for Saturday's League One clash at drop rivals Chesterfield, while Oliver Lancashire is set to miss out after limping off with a hamstring problem.

The manager said: "We'll have to take a look and see what bodies we've got fit. Olly has pulled up with a hamstring injury. It's too early to know about him.

"We'll have to asses it but hamstring injuries are usually four or five weeks."