Dean Smith tells Saddlers to lift the fans

Boss Dean Smith today insisted his Walsall side must rouse the Banks's Stadium crowd from their Saddlers slumber.

The manager expects his players to raise their game at home to reignite a frustrated fanbase after just three league wins at WS1 this season.

The Saddlers launched their Early Bird season ticket scheme today as they search for the new fans but Smith wants his men to excite the existing ones.

He said: "West Brom got beaten at the weekend and I read some comments from Roy Hodgson saying the players need to win the fans back again and get them behind them. We're the same at the moment.

"I don't think it's about regaining the trust and faith though. They know the lads are putting the effort in but at times the quality hasn't been there.

"Last season was a little different with the desperation and we were all in it together. What we've got to make sure now is we do it on the pitch. Then the crowd will get behind us and make it into an atmosphere."

The Saddlers' average attendance this term is 4,357 – up from 4,033 last season – is the 18th best in League One and above Saturday's visitors Colchester who attract just 3,768.

But with temperatures set to dip to minus four on Friday night the game is in doubt with the pitch covers protecting the surface down to minus three.

And the Saddlers have had to train at Wolverhampton University this week with their Essington base frozen over. Smith added: "We're very grateful for the people who have helped us. It was mainly maintenance work on Monday. You'd like to get more football into them."