Dean Smith's tribute to keeper Grof

Walsall chief Dean Smith today hailed David Grof but insisted he is not a Jimmy Walker "mark two".

The in-form keeper has kept four clean sheets in the Saddlers' six-game unbeaten run which has renewed hope of beating the League One drop.

He is keeping Saddlers appearance record-holder Walker on the bench to spark talk he could be his long-term successor.

But, ahead of Saturday's trip to Yeovil, Smith insisted Grof must be judged on his own merits.

"He's got better and better but he's not a James Walker mark two – he's a David Grof," he said. "He's got his own style about him.

"There are things Mick Kearns (goalkeeping coach) and Wacka will tweak with him but he certainly handles the ball well.

"Technically he's getting better and his positioning and vocal side of it is improving.

"He's still learning all the time and he'll be the first to admit that but as long as he's putting in performances then he'll continue to get better.

"He's done fantastically well. I always said to him, 'you will get your chance' and it's about coming in and taking it.

"He did really well when he first came in and had a really good game at Huddersfield (a 1-1 draw). It was unfortunate he got left out after the Bury game (a 4-2 defeat in November).

"He has worked hard on the training ground and is taking his chance again."

Saddlers legend Walker, who has made a record 532 appearances for the club, was initially sidelined with a hamstring problem and Smith admitted the 37-year-old wants his place back.

But the boss praised the attitude of the former West Ham star and the way he has supported ex-Notts County man Grof.

He said: "Jimmy isn't happy because he wants to play games but the support and guidance David is getting has been fantastic."

Grof's form has helped the Saddlers climb to 20th, three points ahead of fourth from bottom Exeter, ahead of back-to-back trips to Yeovil on Saturday and Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday. Smith added: "The form teams seem to be those at the bottom so we've got to keep winning to make sure."