Dean Smith fails in Mark Wilson swoop

Boss Dean Smith today revealed he failed in a deadline-busting move for ex-Walsall loanee Mark Wilson.

The Saddlers failed to agree personal terms with the midfielder who joined League Two Oxford yesterday after being released by Doncaster.

Wilson made six appearances for the Saddlers, scoring once, in November and was believed to be keen on a Walsall return after being frozen out at Rovers.

But, after last night's 1-0 home defeat to Notts County, Smith admitted defeat in his hunt for the ex-Manchester United man.

"I spoke to his agent but unfortunately it couldn't be done in the way of what personal terms he was after," he said, after the close of the transfer window. "I saw him at Scunthorpe's game last week, had a chat with him and knew he was trying to sort himself out. I spoke to his agent but we couldn't get the terms he wanted.

"We're disappointed but it wasn't for the lack of trying. That's the way it goes. I'm speaking to clubs all the time to get players in and it's whether the right deal can be done."

The loan and free transfer window re-opens next week with Smith eager for reinforcements with the Saddlers out of the League One relegation zone on goal difference.

He did sign Stoke midfielder Florent Cuvelier for a month and he impressed during a second-half debut.

But the Saddlers still slipped to their 11th defeat of the season after Lee Hughes' third-minute winner.

George Bowerman had a goal harshly disallowed after Manny Smith fouled keeper Stuart Nelson and, despite a wretched first half, boss Smith insisted they should have snatched a point.

"I didn't know where the first half came from. The performances have been decent and when Flo (Cuvelier) came on we should have got something out of the game," he said.

"I saw the goal and there was nothing wrong with it, it should have been given. We had a clear goal chalked off and you can always tell from the reaction of the goalkeeper. He'd accepted he made a mistake.

"But I'm still disappointed because the performance in the first half was no-where near the standards we've set. The players will feel let down with their display in the first half."