Dean Smith hails his mean machine

Boss Dean Smith today insisted Walsall are winning the mental battle and hailed his men for taking more responsibility.

The Saddlers chief reckons they have restored any lost belief during a three-game unbeaten run which has hauled them out of the drop zone.

They go to Smith's former club Leyton Orient in League One on Saturday and the boss hailed his team's mental strength.

He said: "The mentality side isn't a switch – you have to get yourself there before the game starts because you can't just turn it on and off during the game. That's when you find lapses of concentration and the lads have been really receptive to that.

"They have gone and done their own little huddle before a game. I've had no influence over it, that's something they wanted to do themselves. They've got the things they want to do which is good. We want players to try to sort things out for themselves. We'll organise them and make sure they do things right but it's about them organising themselves as well.

"They have to do that because there's responsibility all over the football pitch, defensive responsibility, on the ball and off it, and they are doing that.

"You hope what you've done during the week is going to pay dividends. You help them and they are developing but sometimes they have to stand up for themselves and take that responsibility."

A three game unbeaten run edged them ahead of Scunthorpe before the Iron's 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United last night.

And Smith admitted the feel-good factor is returning to the squad – although warned with 14 games left they cannot afford to let up.

He said: "There's certainly a better feeling because you've won a couple of games and are out of the bottom four but there's still a long way to go. There are a lot of points we need to collect if we want to get where we want to be.

"Certainly winning games brings a better feeling around the place and more confidence about the players."

Blob: The Saddlers' Early Bird season ticket promotion go on sale today with the club offering free football for under-18s. For more information visit www.saddlers.co.uk